murdering a metaphor: surfing & fundraising
My email responses at the beginning of this week were delayed by a north easterly swell and offshore wind, that came together to create perfect surfing conditions. Perfect, that is, for people who are way better at this surfing thing than I am.
Any vague hint of coolness in this photograph disappears on contact with more than 1.5 metres of salt water, which is when I start to resemble a hairless cat trapped in a washing machine spin cycle regularly colliding with the large piece of bright yellow plastic attached to my ankle.
But between a few joyous rides, gorgeous sunsets and sunrises, and more frequent near-drownings, it occurred to me this week that surfing is a great metaphor for fundraising, particularly when it comes to the choices we make. So I decided to share some of these ideas here. Forgive me for murdering the metaphor in the process.
Forecasts and Flows
What conditions do we need in place before we go surfing (and fundraising)? Sure, we do our homework, we check the webcams, listen to the forecasts, check tides and flows of water (trends and capital) but we remember that our expertise and experience matters most here - we know the local scene and its quirks, we have the connections, we look out of our window and see what’s possible, we know when and where to jump in, and when and where not to.
The Awesome Others
There are always intimidating people that are doing brilliant things further out, that feel beyond us. Whether effortlessly riding big waves or building massive funding partnerships and programmes. But that’s their thing. Let’s remember that they have honed their skill by spending most of the last decade in the water (or fundraising) and have become brilliant at this one thing. We’ve had a hundred other things to juggle, so the surfing (or fundraising) has to fit in the spaces between everything else. Knowing that this is the limitedspace I have to do this in, helps me to remember what’s actually possible, and to manage my own expectations.
Blue Oceans
It’s tempting to jump in alongside everyone else, but I hate surfing (and fundraising) in crowded spaces, where I have to avoid others, and compete with elbows for my place on a wave (or with a donor). I like my wide open spaces when surfing, it’s mainly for the safety of everyone around me due to my dangerously limited control of my own speed and direction. Then there’s something truly wonderful about surfing on our own wave. Check out Blue Ocean Strategy (and see my previous blog on this!) as both surfing and fundraising are more joyful in Blue Oceans.
Mindset and Time Out
Sometimes it just doesn’t click. It’s all just frustrating. Partly because there is very little that can control when it comes to surfing (and fundraising). There are just some waves (and partnerships) that weren’t for us. There are just sometimes when we lose our balance and fall. Some waves that crash on us and push us under. There are moments when we’re tired and need to spend some time out of the water (and the work of fundraising). This is all part of the journey, so we take time when we need it, so we can come back next time fitter and stronger and with the right mindset.
Choose the Right Wave
Wave choice is everything. It takes practice and lots of time in the water (and fundraising) to quickly ignore the distracting waves that promise a long ride but fizzle out and mean you have to turn around and restart paddling through the breakers again. Choosing waves (donors and partnerships) that are solid, that have the power, will break where and when you are placed is a big part of what gives you the very best chance of surfing (and fundraising partnerships). The only way to learn this is by doing, spending time in the water, making the wrong choices then learning, and patiently waiting for everything to come together.
Wave Position
To catch and positioning ourselves perfectly to paddle into it is everything. The same goes for positioning ourselves When we know our limits and those of our experience, we can safely head out a little further and push ourselves to explore beyond our immediate comfort zone without getting out of our depth and drowning.
Board Balance
Our position on the board is everything when catching a wave. Too far forward and we nosedive into the barrel and wash inelegantly into the shore with our sinuses rinsed, a large bruise on our forehead, a coral-shredded wetsuit, and little remaining dignity. Too far backwards and the wave (funding opportunity) slides beneath us and we watch as others catch it, stand, and fly towards shore. It takes a lot of practice but if we keep sliding off the back it’s time to be more forward. And if we’re nose-dining, then we might need to pull back a little until we find that perfect balance.
Euphoria
There’s is nothing quite like the rare feeling of it all coming together and catching that rare green wave (or building a funding partnership), slicing through the clean water ahead of the crest and foam is exhilarating, until you decide when to leap with joy back into the foam, or expertly slip back on to your board to paddle outwards once more… these are the joyful moments that make all that effort worth it.
