Playing BOARD GAMES is making me better IN MY BUSINESS
Gearing up to play my favorite game, EVERDELL (think “The Wind in the Willows”: each player builds their own “city” filled with “critters.” The illustrations are STUNNING and I love that the “currency” (twigs, pebbles, resin, & berries) are 3D!
Flashback to the holidays a few years ago : For the first time ever, my husband Michael & lived in a home where we could host family. I bought a couple of board games, so we’d have some activities other than watching TV. One was Vitaculture (each player builds their own 16th century winery in Tuscany 🍷!)
And I was HOOKED!
The strategy.
The “engine building.”
All the teeny-tiny pieces.
We now have a whole bookshelf full of board games (I’m not sure how many: thankfully, they live in Michael’s office, not mine!). It’s something we do to relax & get away from screens. It’s a way to bond with anyone who visits us (we’ll cook you a great meal AND see if you’ll try a game!)
But, most surprisingly, I’m convinced that playing board games is MAKING ME A BETTER FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT!
Here are 4 takeaways:
MULTIPLE OBJECTIVES LEAD TO A MORE FLEXIBLE, EXPANSIVE STRATEGY
Like nonprofit fundraising, these games are COMPLEX and there’s not one simple way to achieve your goals. You’ve got limited time, resources, and people power (the playing pieces are called “meeples,” btw!). And you need to stay nimble, flexible, and keep all the plates spinning!
FOLLOW THE NATURAL “ARC” OF THE SEASONS
Different cards (& strategies) are more useful, depending on which “season” you are in.
You want to “build” at the beginning of the game (think: Jan/Feb thank-you calls) and rack up the most “points” at the end (think: last-minute circle-backs in Dec).THERE ARE ALWAYS VARIABLES WE CAN’T CONTROL
You’ve got to work with the cards you’re dealt and you have NO IDEA what’s in the hands (& minds) of the other players.Yes, you need a strategy, but you also need FLEXIBILITY, so you can work with the unexpected.
EARLY SUCCESS IS NOT ALWAYS AN INDICATOR OF AN EVENTUAL ‘WIN’
Frequently, it takes more time than you expect to gain momentum. Don’t give up: just because the timeline isn’t meeting your expectations doesn’t mean that you won’t ultimately “win.” Plant the seeds & stick with the plan (but also be ready to “go rogue” and change it up, if necessary!).
Have YOUR hobbies led to any unexpected takeaways you use at work? If so, we’d love to hear them!