I’m writing this Wave Report with a great sense of relief. The manuscript of the book is now – finally – with the editor! 😮‍💨😁🙌

If you are new around here, I’m deeply passionate about helping leaders create profitable growth through innovation, and I’m writing a book about how the Subscription Economy is transforming recurring giving – and what nonprofits can do to benefit. There are many steps to go, but I’m celebrating this one step closer to putting this important message into the world.

I’ve got a problem with retention. 

A bone to pick. 

A beef, if you will. 

More specifically, my issue is not with retaining donors year after year, which is very important. My beef is with the focus on the measurement of retention – a metric that fundraisers and marketers all over the world rely on as a core indicator of the health of their fundraising program. 

Tomorrow, August 17, is National Nonprofit Day. It’s a day to honor nonprofits, the role that charities play in society, and the people who make that vital work possible.

Bonjour, mon ami. 👋

We are home from our summer living in France, so I thought I would share some reflections and lessons on life, leadership, and innovation from the time.

My wife Heather and our daughters deemed this our summer of Joie de Vivre. Joie de vivre is a French saying that means the “joy of life.”

Joie de vivre is about being fully present in the moment and with the people in front of you. The joy of living is not only about happiness, but about embracing whatever life offers in the moment.

Two years ago, I wasn’t sure what I should do. I was launching an advising practice focused on helping organizations grow through sustainable innovation. My dream was to invest half of my time in research, learning, writing, and speaking, and the other half in working directly with clients to apply that learning.

Today, we conclude our three-part series of ideas on innovation from the Purpose & Profit Podcast with a conversation with my co-host Carly Berna about the limitations of expertise.

Today, we continue our three-part series of ideas on innovation from the Purpose & Profit Podcast with an interview with Gabe Cooper, CEO and Founder of Virtuous, on best practices of innovation in nonprofit organizations.

Today’s Wave Report is a short one. For the next couple of weeks, our family will be taking time to travel and create memories as we conclude our Joie de Vivre – our summer living en France.

Joie de vivre is a French saying that means the “joy of life.” As in, “they are filled with joie de vivre.”

As I write this, I’m in one country of red, white, and blue 🇫🇷, thinking of another country about to celebrate the red, white, and blue 🇺🇸… my country, for which I’m grateful.

By the time you read this, the barbecue grills will have cooled, hot dog eating contests weighed, small town parades walked, and fireworks watched.

As many of you know, I’m working on a book.

I’m immersed in the depths of editing at the moment. There is one trend in particular that I’m struggling to articulate, and I wonder if you might be able to help.

I have big news to share. We're moving to France! 🇫🇷

...for six weeks. 😬

I have a few lessons to share in light of this grand adventure. But to understand how we got to today, we need to rewind the clock.

Today marks 20 years that I’ve been in this industry. 🥺

Twenty years ago, on June 7, 2024, I walked into my first day in a new job and into a new world of marketing and fundraising for nonprofit organizations.

Just a few weeks prior, I had no idea that working with nonprofits was even a career option for someone passionate about marketing and making a difference. 

The graveyards of history are littered with organizations that pioneered one way of doing things but failed to transition to the next model.

I can’t think of a better illustration than two days—ten years apart—at this little company called Blockbuster.

“Do you use AI?”  It’s an odd question, if you think about it. 

I think the way we talk about artificial intelligence today is wrong.

The conversation is either ambiguous, or philosophical, or technical, creating confusion. We talk about it in a primitive way – what does the question “Do you use AI?” even mean?

It reminds me of the early days of the internet. 

Do you remember your first time going on the internet? 

I have exciting news to share with you... On May 14, I’ll be speaking at Chick-fil-A’s Impact Accelerator Conference in Atlanta, GA!

The Chick-fil-A Impact Accelerator is a conference dedicated to supporting nonprofit leaders across the nation, hosted by the folks at Chick-fil-A HQ. The event is sold out in person, but there is still room to register to attend virtually if you are interested.

It’s a huge honor to be asked to speak on innovation, specifically on leveraging AI to grow innovation and impact.

But I have to be honest. Until recently, I didn’t think of “innovation” when I thought of Chick-fil-A. Wasn’t the idea to keep things the same and not innovate?

If you know me, you know that I believe that recurring revenue, specifically sustainable “subscription” giving for nonprofits, is one of the most significant opportunities facing charities today.

Content without Connection is Worth-Less.

If you want learning and growth to occur, then it is important to create a culture where people feel safe and connected.

I’m a teacher at heart. For as long as I can remember, I’ve derived great joy from helping others to learn, understand, and act on new insights.

I used to think that learning was all about the quality of the ideas and the clarity of the explanation (i.e., the act of teaching). But the longer I’ve taught and the more I’ve studied the learning process, the more I realize that I’ve been missing half of the equation.

This week’s Wave Report is a Choose Your Own Adventure-style journey through the power of redemptive entrepreneurship and the intersection of culture and brand.

Have you ever read a Choose Your Own Adventure book?

Today, I’d like to give you a lesson on surfing the waves of innovation and creating sustainable growth, and it’s all about attitude. 🏄

The pace of change can feel a lot like the unending pounding of the waves: overwhelming, disorienting, exhausting, and lonely.

Have you ever been to the beach and watched surfers in the water?

They never seem to be in a hurry.

The most recent episode of the Purpose & Profit Podcast features a conversation with Nathan Chappell, co-author of a catalytic book that anyone passionate about causes and the state of philanthropy in the United States should read.

The book is called The Generosity Crisis: The Case for Radical Connection to Solve Humanity's Greatest Challenges, and we discuss it in this latest episode:

Purpose & Profit Podcast | Season 4, Episode 2