I visited the Re:create conference yesterday. The seminar I happened to catch was on blogging. Blogging is an interesting thing - there were about 50 people in the room and the majority of them have a blog but only a few of those keep up with it. I know why that is.

Blogging is a discipline you have to enforce unless there is something about it you enjoy. That’s the key, enjoying the process. But what is there to enjoy? The dialogue. Blogging is a two-way street. It’s the dialogue that makes it so engaging. Sure some people use their blog as a personal journal (shared with the world). But for me it’s the conversation that takes place between me and my readers that energizes my blogging.

So go ahead - jump in and share your thoughts. Join the dialogue, start your own blog or simply add your comments to mine. It’s fun!

Peace.

This week Randy Elrod will host the Re:create 2007 conference at the Marriott in Cool Springs, TN. Re:create is a wonderful opportunity for artists, worship leaders and church visionaries to gather in one place for the sole purpose of fanning the flames of creativity and innovation.

This year The Grant Writing Coach will have the opportunity to share at the conference. 100 of the country’s finest and most cutting edge ministries will hear from the Coach how to access the huge pool of grant funding.

A big thanks to Randy for the opportunity.

We finally got a decent snow here in Middle Tennessee.

Snowy days are great days to hole up and do a little planning. Here are six questions to help you with your strategic planning:

1) How will you measure performance?
2) What services do you provide and who is your target audience?
3) What are the various factors that affect your organization? Be sure to consider economic, demographic, social, political, legal, environmental, and technical trends. Are there other competing organizations that provide similar services?
4) What is the cost of delivering your services? What is your total overhead cost?
5) Do you have a variety of streams of revenue? Have you considered for-profit enterprises within your nonprofit organization?
6) What accomplishments are critical to reaching your mission in light of external trends and your organization’s internal capabilities?

Special thanks to Ralph C. Craft and Ronald G. Benson for their ideas on strategic planning.