Tuesday Thoughts | 13 August 2024 | Small Steps, Big Achievements

Its no secret that one of the ideas that Tuesday Thoughts is based on is that Small Actions lead to Big Impacts, its right there in the subtitle of the Tuesday Thoughts books ‘A Year of Small Actions for Big Impacts’, its even on the custom pop-stopper on my phone.

Its that old adage, ‘a journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step’; and I’ve always been one for consistently trying to be better, and to do better, to keep moving forward.

Sometimes we don’t even really know where we are going, we just have to trust in the path we are on. I’ve felt this way about my relationship to the Meetings and Events Industry. Its no secret that when I first started working in the Not-for-Profit sector, I was convinced that my deep knowledge of Government and Governance meant that I could ‘not do meetings’ and be perfectly fine.

The reality is that most Not-for-Profits, most especially Professional and Trade Associations hold a lot of meetings, from networking opportunities, to continuing education, there are endless tradeshows, conferences and seminars; I learned quickly that if I wanted to lead a Not-for-Profit I should probably learn a thing or two about what is often the largest non-dues-revenue line item.

Today, is one of those days were that slow but steady journey has led to a substantial accomplishment; this afternoon alongside a couple of Industry Giants, I will attend the Hall of Fame (presented by the Canadian Meetings and Events Expo) as a finalist nominee in the Industry Volunteer category.

I’m not being bashful or self deprecating when I tell you, I don’t expect to win, and it is an honour simply to be nominated; to have made the journey over the last 14.5 years from, ‘I don’t do meetings’ to being nominated for the Meetings and Events Hall of Fame is in and of itself a massive accomplishment.

One of the key ingredients to slow and steady progress is always the act of simply saying ‘yes’ to opportunities, either out-loud when invited to do something, or in your head when you an alternative path opening up in front of you, in the 50th edition of this newsletter, December 20, 2022’s ‘Counting My Yeses’ I did a deeper dive into the most powerful three letter word in the English Language.

Most people aren’t born being good at things, you might be predisposed to be good at something, but the universe still needs to conspire to put you in the situations where you can practice. While I’m not convinced its an exact science, there is something to the concept of 10,000 hours, popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book ‘Outliers’.

Just as often as we the final goal slowly reveals itself; we find ourselves setting big audacious goals, and then slowly marching towards them; one big audacious goal I have is to grow this Newsletter into a household name. This Friday I was recognized at a social event, based on my presence her on LinkedIn, which I took as a clear sign its working – very slowly.

This is the 136th issue of Tuesday Thoughts, and I am hopeful that today will be the day, that my weekly writing practice – which I stumbled into – will surpass 900 subscribers; its not exactly a viral hit, but most things aren’t, until they are. For every instantly famous creator, there are dozens who spent years putting out quality content before growing their audiences to a size where their impact was outsized. Need I remind you dear reader of my current personal mission statement “To Change the World, By Inspiring Actions, That Amplify My Impact”.

One page, one newsletter, one week at a time; what keeps me plugging away at Tuesday Thoughts is when you – the reader – generously share with me your stories of the lessons from these pages that stick with you, and inspire you to take small steps to that change your world. Mark you calendars for November 19th when issue 150 will drop, and January 20, 2025, when the third and final Tuesday Thoughts book will launch.

As I sit and write this issue of Tuesday Thoughts, I am working away at a challenge I’ve set for myself for the month of August; 500 Small Actions for Big Impact. Spoiler Alert: you can expect the first issue of Tuesday Thoughts in September (September 3, 2024) to do a deep dive into the outcome of the challenge and how its helping me launch into the final months of 2024.

As of today, I’ve completed just over 20% of 500 Actions, with 115 Actions, 57 of which involved decluttering additional items from my spaces. If this practical minimalist can find 57 items to declutter, almost entirely in only two rooms of my home; you can find ways to lighten your ‘inventory’ so that you can move fast (and hopefully not break too much stuff) as we start the ‘other’ New Year in a couple of weeks.

This week’s call to action is in some ways the call to action theme of all of Tuesday Thoughts, through each action, each step, each small accomplishment, remember that you are building towards greatness.

New and Noteworthy is a collection of things readers of #TuesdayThoughts might find interesting, important, or informative;

??Other Stuff I Did This Week (shameless self promotion): I'm a finalist in the category of Industry Volunteer for the Hall of Fame presented by CMEE, the honouree will be announced this afternoon | I celebrated Book Lovers Day by sharing links to the two volumes of the #TuesdayThoughtsBook as well as a list of some of the newest titles on my shelves from authors in my network.

???Hold These Dates: Where to next? I'm looking for a handful of Speaking and Consulting Engagements through late 2024 and into 2025 to continue to make an impact. Details of my offerings are on my website daniellerussell.ca.

? What to Do: Attend the Public Affairs Association of Canada (PAAC) Annual Conference h/t Kyle Larkin

?? What to Read: Black employees more likely to experience depression after workplace mistreatment from phys.org

????♀?Cool Jobs (Paid and Volunteer): Board of Advisors @ Women's Nonprofit Network h/t Hailey Rodgers | Communications and Policy Lead @ Mental Health Partners (MHP) h/t Erin Boudreau

?? Take Note: Congratulations to the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Relations team, double award winners from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education h/t Derek Szilagyi | Julia O'Grady and ITM Events are looking for conference client with a biannual event in 2025, 2027, 2029...

CALL FOR CONTENT: I crowd source 99% of what appears in New and Noteworthy, but I would love the help of the Tuesday Thoughts Community to identify content about you and for you. Got a cool new project? A Job Posting to Fill? Or just something you found interesting? DM me with a link.

I am a Certified Association Executive with over a dozen years of experience in leadership positions across Canada’s Not-for-Profit Sector, with deep ties in the Meetings and Events Industry. I use the art of storytelling in speech and writing to explain ideas, and to inform audiences and readers on a variety of topics. Learn more about how we can collaborate;

?? Consulting Services: I offer a suite of consulting services for Associations and Charities, and am interested in working with likeminded organizations on projects that contribute to better governance, leadership and the overall growth and health of Canada’s Association and Not-for-Profit Industries.

??? Speaker/Facilitator: I have spoken to standing room only crowds in the Association and Events sectors, connecting ideas and people; topics include, The Introvert Experience, Imposter Syndrome and Mentorship, EDI: Lived Experience as a BIPOC Woman in Leadership, Minimalism and Essentialism, Finding Your Voice and Building Your Unique Brand, Making and Impact, and the #TuesdayThoughtsFormula. NEW: Speaker Onesheet (ratesheet available on request)

??? Contributing Writer: I have written for Industry Publications and Blogs with a focus on the role of Associations, Volunteerism, and the Intersection of Not-for-Profit Management and many current social and economic trends. My inclination towards storytelling lends itself well to the style of Creative Non-Fiction.

?? The Tuesday Thoughts Formula: I am on a mission to inspire actions that amplify my impact, each week I follow the #TuesdayThoughtsForumla to deliver a call to action inspired by relevant stories; new this year, I’m bringing live demonstrations of the formula to the stage to help conference, event and meeting attendees tell their own stories that amplify their ROI of in-person attendance.

?? Check out my website daniellerussell.ca or email me: [email protected]

?? I’m on a Mission to?Change The World, By Inspiring Actions That Amplify My Impact! Despite my Introverted tendencies, if I have any hope of success this cannot be a solo affair. Join my community where I Connect People and Ideas;

?? Tuesday Thoughts: Join the #TuesdayThoughts community, subscribe to the Newsletter and get your copy of the #TuesdayThoughtsBook, The Tuesday Thoughts Companion: A Year of Small Actions for Big Impact. Like, Comment and Share to keep the conversation going, and amplify the thoughts that inspire you to action.

?? Let’s Be Friends: LinkedIn: Danielle S. Russell, CAE (she/her) | Instagram: @danielle.s.russell