The Shaky Truth About Success: Turning Fragile Ground Into Solid Foundations for 2025

Imagine landing a leadership role after years of hard work, sacrifice, and determination. It's a moment of triumph, yet the ground beneath you feels unstable—fragile, even.?

This is the reality of "fragile ground," where success is accompanied by constant scrutiny, limited support, and the need to continually prove oneself.

One of my coaching clients shared a powerful metaphor: “It’s like being given the keys to a car but no gas to drive it—celebrated for making it but left unsupported to succeed. Standing on shaky ground, this person was expected to thrive without a solid foundation beneath them.” This vividly brings the definition above to life, highlighting the challenges of navigating success without the necessary support or resources.

Historical Perspective: The Six Triple Eight

The systemic challenges of leading from "fragile ground" are not new. During World War II, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—known as the "Six Triple Eight"—demonstrated impactful leadership and resilience despite all odds against them. This trailblazing all-Black, all-female unit was tasked with a critical mission during World War II: sorting and delivering a staggering backlog of 17 million letters and packages. Their efforts ensured that soldiers overseas received much-needed messages of love and support from their families. The Six Triple Eight also simultaneously delivered correspondence and packages from soldiers to their loved ones in the United States. Despite the hostile living conditions and historically systemic barriers placed upon them, the Six Triple Eight triumphed—they even accomplished this enormous mission in half the allotted time.?

Guided by their motto, "No mail, low morale," the Six Triple Eight played a vital role in maintaining morale and connection during the war.

Their remarkably inspiring story is now depicted in Tyler Perry's film, The Six Triple Eight, streaming on Netflix. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s fantastic!?

If you’ve watched the movie or know their story, I’d love to hear what resonated most with you in the comments below.

Call to Action: What Can Your Business or Workplace Do?

To first acknowledge and understand the struggle of leading on "fragile ground" for those on your team who are from historically excluded communities, workplace leaders must ask themselves: Are you ready to provide your team leaders with what they truly need? And how will you hold yourself accountable to ensure this support continues?

Equipping your team members with adequate resources—budgets, staff, and tools—isn’t solely a symbolic gesture; it’s the foundation of real, sustainable success. When organizations commit to this standard, they create a more equitable, accessible, and inclusive environment where all leaders can thrive, drive innovation, and inspire meaningful change.?

With that being said, are you prepared to take action and track your progress? Share your 2025 goals in the comments, and let’s uplift and support each other to reach them!

With 2025 just beginning, it’s the perfect time to set new goals and commit to progress. This year is all about growth, and I truly believe that together we can uplift and support each other to reach new heights.

What are your 2025 goals? Drop them in the comments – let’s inspire one another! Stay tuned, there’s something on the way that I can’t wait to share with you all!???

Triple C News

In-House Cohort Experience: Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN) and City Harvest Food Bank

I am proud to share the launch of our new 8-month-long in-house cohort experience. This partnership is between the CEN - Center for Excellence in Nonprofits and City Harvest Food Bank, and I am thrilled to be the facilitator for the second year!?

The leaders selected to participate in this program, and I have collaborated to co-create experiences that celebrate impactful leadership, foster meaningful connections, and provide the tools needed to drive results in their organizations and communities.

Thanks to the City Harvest Food Bank for investing in this initiative. It will be exciting to see the progress of our new cohort leaders!

The Peak Podcast Interview

I'm thrilled to announce my upcoming appearance on "The Peak Podcast" with hosts Eli Libby and Kyle Nelson from the Peak Fulfillment team!

We'll be recording on January 23rd, where I'll be sharing insights gained from working with thousands of business owners, along with my own personal journey. I'm truly blessed and excited for this opportunity to share my experiences with the Peak Podcast community. I invited you to listen on all streaming platforms!

Stay tuned for more details!

Bloomerang and QGiv’s GiveCon 2025 – Featured Speaker Announcement

I will be joining GiveCon 2025 as a featured speaker a few months back. Now I’m excited that this event has sold out and is coming up next month! This four-day annual conference will motivate and educate numerous fundraising professionals and nonprofit leaders who are passionate about making a difference in our communities. More details below.

Event Details

When: February 23-26, 2025??

Where: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress??

???1 Grand Cypress Blvd, Orlando, FL 32836

I will lead the session, “Unlocking Overlooked Potential: The Power of Inclusive Fundraising in Historically Excluded Communities” on Tuesday, February 25 from 3-3:45 p.m. ET. More details on this conversation are below, and please take a look at the full GiveCon 2025 schedule for more info on the many inspiring talks led by other accredited experts in non-profit and fundraising!

In today's ever-evolving nonprofit landscape, embracing B-IDEAL (belonging, inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and learning) isn't just the right thing to do – it's imperative for your fundraising efforts today and beyond. Yet many organizations are missing out by overlooking historically excluded communities – a source of vast, untapped potential and abundant growth opportunities. In this session, attendees will engage in interactive exercises designed to challenge assumptions, broaden perspectives, and provide immediately applicable insights. These activities will be complemented by real-world case studies, showcasing both successful implementations and valuable learning experiences. Together, these elements will offer a comprehensive view of B-IDEAL principles in action, equipping participants with the knowledge to create inclusive, equitable, and ultimately more successful fundraising campaigns. Join us to discover how championing diversity can boost your nonprofit's bottom line and amplify your organization’s mission in creating and sustaining a culture of equity, accessibility, and embracing differences. Ready to revolutionize your organization’s impact and build a more inclusive, profitable future for all fundraising leaders?

This session will equip attendees with understanding and strategies for inclusive fundraising that unlock untapped potential in historically excluded communities, including:

1. Diversity Dividend: Learn how reaching historically excluded demographics can significantly expand your organization's donor base and increase funding by addressing their unique needs and aspirations.
2. Breaking Barriers: Explore innovative solutions to overcome systemic challenges that hinder philanthropic engagement in diverse communities, focusing on building trust through B-IDEAL principles.
3. Developing a Plan of Action: Leave this session with a personalized roadmap to implement inclusive fundraising practices in your organization, ready to make immediate changes that drive long-term success.