Happy You-Matter Monday,
AS WE GET DEEPER INTO Q4, it's time to talk about the most important thing in your organization. More important than your board. More important than your budget. Even more important than your mission…
YOU. And your mental health.
(Wait, don't go. I have something cool for you. 😅)
You already carry the regular load. Staffing, the board, donors, grants, board reports, grant reports. And now the "fun" stuff kicks in. Colorado Gives, Giving Tuesday, year-end appeals, 2027 planning... 😣 Gosh, I'm exhausted just writing this out, and you have to live this.
This is the season where leaders lose themselves. Somewhere in the thick of it, the questions start creeping in. Why am I still doing this? Is it even worth it? Am I actually making a difference?
Can I be honest with you? I ask myself those same questions about you.
I don't think I'm doing enough for you. I don't think I'm working hard enough for you. And I don't think I'm doing a good enough job showing you how much your work matters on this Earth. You are so important that I believe God gave me this mission to serve YOU, because He sees the need for YOU. And most days, I don't feel like I'm doing my best or making the difference YOU deserve.
But for this week's tip, here's something I built for myself first. And then I realized you might appreciate it too.
But before we get there, let me say to you what an ED said to me.
Respectfully, stop it!
Yes, you are making a difference. Yes, it is worth it. Your community members are too busy surviving to stop and say thank you. So let me say it for them. Thank you so so much.🙏🏾
But I can hear your subconscious already...
Subconscious: Those are empty words, Regis. Prove that I’m truly making a difference….
….Challenge Accepted 😅
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Actionable Task:
Get proof delivered to you.
Step 1: Open Claude , ChatGPT, or Gemini (paid plans are required for scheduled tasks) and connect your email, calendar, and drive.
Step 2: Paste this and schedule it for Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings:
"Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning, search my email, calendar, documents, board materials, and our website [WEBSITE] for real evidence that my work is making a difference.
Look for things like: a thank-you or compliment someone sent me, a story of someone we helped, a positive review, a goal we hit, a number that moved in the right direction, or a board meeting where we made progress.
Send me one or two pieces of proof. For each one, tell me exactly where you found it and when.
Only use real things you can point to. Never invent or exaggerate anything. Keep any private client details out of the message. If you can't find anything new, remind me of the best piece of proof from the past month instead.
End with one short sentence of encouragement based on what you found. Keep it warm, honest, and simple."
Step 3: Read it before you open your inbox. Let it set the tone for your day.
Step 4: Save your favorites in a folder called "Why I Do This." Open it on the hard days.
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Remember:
Burnout lies. It tells you nothing is changing because you're too tired to see what already has. You're exhausted, and exhaustion can narrow what you're able to notice. The proof has been sitting in your inbox the whole time. Let something else go find it while you keep doing the work that made it 🙏🏾
#ExistToServe
P.S. Free AI Office Hours for EDs
My faith says give ten percent back.
Giving ten percent of your money is hard. Giving ten percent of your time is harder. That's exactly why I HAVE TO GET to do it.
So four hours a week are yours. Tell me the task that's eating you, the question you've been sitting on, or the AI thing you're curious about, but haven't had time to figure out. I solve it on the call. Free.
Not a pitch. Not a demo. Just my tithe.
Regis Arzu (he/him/his)
[email protected]
ETS AI Consulting | CEO
347.748.5078
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Mondays are rough. It's scary times for Nonprofits. Your time is scarce. That’s why I created the Monday Motivational Minute. Each week, I’ll send you one high-impact, actionable idea to help you leverage AI and save time. It will always be a 1-minute-ish read. If it adds value, great. If not, unsubscribe, but I’m betting you’ll want to stay. (Challenge Accepted ☺️)
