/ en-US Mon, 05 May 2025 08:27:28 -0700 60 / 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg /author_blog_posts/25730982-a-passion-shared-lesson-13 Mon, 05 May 2025 08:27:28 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25730982-a-passion-shared-lesson-13
LESSON #13: USE STUDENT HELP THOUGHTFULLY
It’s usually free! And often quite useful when you have back-burner projects for which you never seem to have time. Just remember that college students who are trying to meet course requirements may need a great deal of oversight that can drain your time and patience. They will also probably be with you for a relatively short period. We found it best to set expectations for student projects in advance, ensure strong faculty involvement, and ask upfront about any meetings we’d have to attend and reports we’d have to prepare. (See more lessons from With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through at .)

posted by Anita Saville on May, 05 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25720628-a-passion-shared-lesson-12 Thu, 01 May 2025 08:23:59 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25720628-a-passion-shared-lesson-12
LESSON #12: LET THE DUST SETTLE
Startups, like toddlers, often run from one shiny object to the next—not fully appreciating the obstacles they’ve overcome or what they’ve accomplished. You don’t have to hatch new ideas continuously. There’s a lot to be said for building on your original idea slowly and steadily. (See more lessons from With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through at .)

posted by Anita Saville on May, 01 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25711604-a-passion-realized-lesson-11 Mon, 28 Apr 2025 14:09:09 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25711604-a-passion-realized-lesson-11
LESSON #11: STAY TRUE TO YOUR MISSION
A lot of people will offer advice—especially in the beginning�
which makes it really easy to second-guess your game plan. You
need to be clear about the final goal and the steps you must take
to get there. While you should be flexible, you should also trust
your gut. If you’re uncomfortable with a suggestion, move on. (See more lessons from With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 28 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25703711-lessons-from-with-a-passion Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:03:11 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25703711-lessons-from-with-a-passion With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through. Have you found these posts useful? Would you like to see more?

posted by Anita Saville on April, 25 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25703710-a-passion-realized-lesson-10 Fri, 25 Apr 2025 08:00:23 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25703710-a-passion-realized-lesson-10
LESSON #10: PLAN AHEAD
Organizations don’t magically evolve on their own. Organic growth requires thoughtful planning and execution. There are plenty of folks who are ready and able to push a good idea along; the trick is knowing what kind of help you need and how to find it. (See more lessons from With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 25 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25695030-a-passion-realized-lesson-9 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 08:21:32 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25695030-a-passion-realized-lesson-9
LESSON #9: PLAY TO YOUR STRENGTHS
The more you put your personal experiences and organizational superpowers in play, the greater your credibility with potential supporters and your chance for success. Finding a partner with strengths to complement yours significantly increases your odds. (See more lessons from With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 22 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25681916-a-passion-shared-lesson-8 Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:33:52 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25681916-a-passion-shared-lesson-8
LESSON #8: TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES
With all you must do to get your project off the ground, there may be little time to reflect on what you’ve achieved. But recognizing the accomplishments of everyone involved, and praising them for their efforts, is essential to ongoing success. (See more lessons at .) With a Passion: Seeing Good Ideas Through

posted by Anita Saville on April, 17 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25672870-a-passion-shared-lesson-7 Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:33:23 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25672870-a-passion-shared-lesson-7
LESSON #7: PLAN HOW YOU’LL MEASURE SUCCESS
Unless you already have a strong track record, potential funders and other stakeholders will eventually want proof that your idea works. Real, quantifiable metrics make the best impression. But rich anecdotes that demonstrate your impact are valuable, too. If you document the cool stories as they happen, you’ll have them in the bank when you need them. (See more lessons from With a Passion at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 14 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25662691-a-passion-shared-lesson-6 Thu, 10 Apr 2025 11:31:02 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25662691-a-passion-shared-lesson-6
LESSON #6: BE READY TO MAKE SOME NOISE
In addition to giving you room to make mistakes, a pilot period is a good time to reach out to members of the media, funders, and other potential stakeholders who might be interested in what you’re doing. (See more lessons at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 10 ]]> /author_blog_posts/25651145-a-passion-shared-lesson-5 Sun, 06 Apr 2025 15:30:17 -0700 /author_blog_posts/25651145-a-passion-shared-lesson-5
LESSON #5: BE FLEXIBLE
No matter how much you prepare for the kickoff of your project, there will be surprises. It helps to have a Plan B. Maybe even a Plan C. You can’t anticipate every speed bump. But you can create choices that cushion the ride. (See more lessons at .)

posted by Anita Saville on April, 06 ]]>