Tuesday Thoughts | 30 April 2024 | I Have Some Thoughts...

Where were you 1099 days ago? Its not a trick question, although given that it was April of 2021, you were probably at home for most, if not all, of the day; I know that I was, in fact like many folks I had been home for just over 13 months, and I was struggling to find new, creative, and impactful ways to fill my days.

On April 27, 2021, I posted what I thought would be a one-off rant, that has instead become the first day of something that has shaped my life, and personal brand; I started the last sentence of that short post with “Some Tuesday Thoughts”, and the rest – as they say – is history. Since then, I have missed exactly one Tuesday – I posted the following day – and haven’t missed a week.

157 weeks of rants, 121 weeks since I became an early adopter (for the first, and probably last time in my life) of the LinkedIn Newsletter feature in January of 2022; over 100,000 words, ~150 calls to action (a feature that was permanently added in mid-2021), 850+ Subscribers, and 2 books (available for purchase on Amazon).

A number of months ago, just before I officially joined the Board of the Wilfrid Laurier University Alumni Association (WLUAA for short, pronounced Woo-Loo-Ahh for you non-Golden Hawks), I had a ‘culture fit’ zoom call with the Board Chairman Kyle Walker . After a quick recitation of my bio/CV, he asked “is that your photo on that book behind you?”. Yes, my friends, on the average day I completely forget that I have written two books.

Recently, after pouring my heart, soul, and limited graphic design and layout, skills into two volumes of The Tuesday Thoughts Companion: A Year of Small Actions for Big Impact; I decided that volume 3 – 2024 – will likely be the final book in the series, a trilogy feels like something that is complete. While I don’t foresee ending this newsletter any time soon, the ROI on the book side of things doesn’t seem to support the amount of time and effort I am pouring into another in a growing pile of obligations, commitments, and (most importantly) opportunities.

I often say my books are just very large, heavy, and expensive business cards, they are certainly more memorable than a small piece of card stock, and I will continue to give copies as gifts to those I hope will find enjoyment, value or motivation. And I will be forever grateful to those who have purchased copies, given them as gifts (and in give aways – I see you Sandra Moniz, CAE, CMM ), and asked me to sign their copy. My heart does a little happy dance every time I see #TuesdayThoughtsBook.

As longtime readers know, #TuesdayThoughts would never have been more than a one-time thing if Geoff Mak, CEM, CMP , hadn’t left a comment on that Tuesday in April of 2021 noting that he looked forward to next week’s thoughts (which was initially an ‘oh f**k, what did I do? Moment); and the book would never have happened without Ruth Abrahamson ‘encouraging’ me to do more with the first year’s worth of newsletter issues, than ‘they’re all in a google doc somewhere’.

Its funny, Saturday was also the 53rd anniversary of my Mom’s arrival in Canada; Marie Russell is the unsung member of the Tuesday Thoughts team, who proof reads everything that goes to print – although not everything that gets posted, she’d want me to tell you that, in case this issue of the newsletter contains any glaring typos. When I mentioned that I might include her anniversary in this text, she said ‘oh no, Tuesday Thoughts is about you, not me’.

But here’s the thing, if Tuesday Thoughts was about just me, it would have ended almost as soon as it started, on April 27, 2021; its likely my inner obliger (a la Gretchen Rubin’s four tendencies) that turned an innocent enough comment from Geoff Mak into a weekly obligation; and it was the matching of my personal mission “To Change the World, By Inspiring Actions, That Amplify My Impact” with the #TuesdayThoughtsForumla that continues to drive me to show up each week, with a newsletter that has become a must-read for hundreds of folks.

It was even a non-negotiable when I was searching for my next (now current) great career adventure, I knew that I might not be able to take on every consulting project that came my way – no matter how fascinating I might find it, and I knew that I might not be able to say ‘yes’ when a new speaking engagement came my way, but I was (and remain) committed to sitting down once a week and crafting a compelling narrative I hope will inspire you to answer the weekly call to action.

As it turns out, I’ve had lots of opportunities to keep my consulting skills fresh, which has the added bonus of saving my employer lots of money; so far I’ve contributed to a bylaw review, implemented templates for board meeting materials, am updating the AGM materials, and have created and deployed several RFPs for professional services. But the great part about being part of a staff team, is that I don’t actually have to do EVERYTHING myself – which see above –isn’t exactly my preferred way to work.

You may also know that, Tuesday Thoughts Books don’t launch on Tuesdays, instead they launch on ‘Blue Monday’ the saddest day of the year, when all your holiday bills come due, and you start to lose momentum on your New Year’s Resolutions – they are meant to be the shot in the arm of motivation that readers might need to continue to step boldly into the new year. Since we are deep into 2024, with Blue Monday firmly in the rear view, both Tuesday Thoughts books are available on Amazon, and for a cheaper (actually free for download) alternative, I have a pdf of the first 100 Calls to Action on my website daniellerussell.ca .

My #1 top call to action from the first 100 calls to action is: Abandon the desire to Take – even when it comes from a place of genuine need – and instead to seek ways to Give; because it is only through Giving, that you can become a Receiver. Which appeared in the 75th Edition of Tuesday Thoughts (the newsletter – please subscribe if you haven’t already), from the issue entitled Gratefully Embracing Community .

The story of #TuesdayThoughts is about finding your voice, and then allowing that voice to shape you, and you it, in service of something bigger than yourself – how fitting for someone who has adopted their family motto: Everyone Must Serve!?

This week’s call to action, is to find the way(s) to share your gifts and talents, in a way that is in the greatest service of others. If you have thoughts, share them, in whatever art-form or medium you can.

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 got to attend my first IRL event presented by Canadian Defence Lawyers and got to watch the team shine - WTG Mary-Ellen Thibodeau and Bushra Chaudhary - the role of Executive Director is more often than not chief cheerleader and resource curator | I had the opportunity to join my fellow WLUAA (now you all know) Board Members for a tour of Laurier's Brantford Campus - which has become a model for campus expansion in the context of community partnership - check out posts from my fellow Directors: Rachel Runge , Kevin Lad , Ryan Smith , Jonelle Ricketts , and join the entire Golden Hawk community in celebrating 25 years of in the Brantford Community.

???Hold These Dates: Where to next? Life is busy as the Executive Director of the Canadian Defence Lawyers , but I am looking for a handful of Speaking and Consulting Engagements through late 2024 to keep my skills sharp and nimble, and to continue to make an impact. Details of my offerings are on my website daniellerussell.ca .

?? What to Read: I love seeing folks celebrating thier books, when I saw this post from Brian Miller I went straight to Amazon and ordered a copy of Three New People that is currently sitting next to my mouse on my desk | Why the Board’s Duty of Foresight Remains a Radical Idea Ten Years Later: Part I from Jeff De Cagna AIMP FRSA FASAE in Association Advisor

?? What to Listen To: Geetika Bhardwaj 's 'Geetika ki Canadian Diary' podcast is a year old, with 12 exciting episodes in the back catalogue (including an episode featuring yours truly)

???? Cool Jobs (Paid and Volunteer): Administrative Support (person or organization) @ AMC Institute Canadian Chapter | Marketing Specialist @ March of Dimes Canada h/t Amanda MacKenzie | Communications & Policy Researcher (Summer Intern) @ Ontario's Big City Mayors h/t Michelle Baker | Board of Directors @ Central Counties Tourism | Specialist, Engagement @ CSAE h/t Carrie Fischer

?? Take Note: Maggie John is looking to connect with Women of Colour in Senior Leadership Roles in the NFP Sector, does that sound like you, or someone you know? Reach Out | A helpful and seasonal reminder of which boat has the right of way as we head out to the lake for another season h/t Colleen McCourt

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 .

??? 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