Your Life Is The Product
Support Raising: 11 Principles to Get Funded
Principle #6 Your Life Is The Product
One of the biggest traps of living in America in the 21st century is our entitlement mentality. This thought process is built on the idea that the people around us owe us something. If we are honest with ourselves, we believe that things should work out the way we want them to and what we want should be given to us. Deep down, we think the world revolves around us. Don’t believe me? Think about the last time you drove. If you hit every red light on the way to your destination you would be furious... because the light is always supposed to be green for you, right?
However, true leaders and people who are successful at support raising understand the generosity of others is a privilege they enjoy, not some deservedness or entitlement. It's a mindset that recognizes that it is a privilege to ask and receive money from others. Such humble thinking glorifies God and inspires people around you. It is a thought pattern that focuses on God, others, and the mission, rather than placing a focus on self. Nobody owes you anything, so instead, focus on developing a life that's worthy of investing in.
John Maxwell says it well,
"If you're not willing to follow yourself, why do you expect anyone else to follow you?"
How you live is essential to gaining future donations and maintaining current support. People are watching you. Your life is your product. So, if you're living with an entitlement mentality and not doing a good job with your life skills, emotional and spiritual health, and finances, then you may find it difficult to convince someone to support your cause.
Imagine a situation where a potential donor gets in your car, and it's dirty, a total mess. He may have a hard time parting his resources to support your mission, because it might appear to him that your life is not in order. Why would he trust that you're handling your mission properly, if you can't do the same with your personal life?
Remember this, your reputation is your greatest tool when raising support.
I remember watching Shark Tank one day, and one of the guys on the show said, "I don't invest in restaurants, I invest in chefs".
It was an incredibly striking statement, and it reminded me that in support raising, people don't invest in organizations. Rather, they invest in the individuals who are requesting they share their resources. When people give support, they are demonstrating a strong belief in the person to whom they're giving funds. These donors have looked at the lives of these individuals requesting support and can see if they are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission they're supporting.
People invest in leaders, not ideas.
CEOs are not businesses. Your life is your product and many people are watching. Nobody owes you anything. So you need to be willing to live a life that's worth investing in.
"A good name is more desirable than great riches, and favor is better than silver and gold." Proverbs 22:1
This Bible verse is such a great reminder that our priority is to become people of strong character and moral integrity. Our lives need to display the fruit of the Spirit, motivating and inspiring others. If we walk along this path and live a life worthy of support, then each person that chooses to support us will feel like an undeserved gift. Grace is never owed to anyone.
If you want to be successful at support raising, I encourage you to consider buying John Maxwell's book, “21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”.
We all need to continue growing in our leadership abilities so that we can influence those around us positively and fight America’s entitlement mentality. As we grow, those who are watching will be excited to contribute donations because our life will be a worthy product to invest in.
