I wish I had my cat’s persistence.

Every morning we wake up to mews, loud mews, that persist on-and-on through the morning until Lucy (that’s our cat) gets fed. She repeats her ritual when we get home from work until she gets fed again. She knows when it’s her time and she let’s us know until we feed her. Lucy also plays fetch and when she wants to play she brings us her mouse toy, rubber band or milk ring, and places it by our side. If she can’t get it up on the couch she tries again, if it drops, she tries again until it is laying still on the couch for us to throw. She never gives up.

This morning as she was meowing to wake me up and feed her, I was thinking, man I wish I had her persistence. There are actually two things I can learn from her.

1. Be persistent, never give up. This doesn’t mean run around yelling until someone acknowledges you, but being persistent in reaching your goals is definitely a good lesson. If your milk ring falls off the couch or your human just isn’t paying attention to you, try to do it another way. It is important that as we are trying to prove ourselves to our bosses or to the nonprofit sector in general we keep on trying, even if it takes us three times taking on a new task or continually taking on the tasks no one else wants to do. As an emerging leader it is important to keep on building your skills and taking on stretch assignments at work. And never give up, because your time will come.
2. Wait until its your time. Commonly, Millennials want to have the best now. I know it was a lesson I had to learn. It’s hard walking into an organization ready to lead and take on new exciting projects and not being able to do either. Although we are ready to take on the world we sometimes have to put our time in. I have recently come to terms with this and have been using every experience as a learning experience and another task that will help me grow. It is important to keep on persisting in your organization and doing everything you can to get ahead, but when its your time make sure they know it. When your employer finally gives you that one task you have been waiting for, blow them out of the water. Lucy doesn’t just mew a little, she really let’s us know it is her time.

These lessons from the cat are important to any Millennial. We must work for what we want, be persistent, and when it’s our time we have to show them we can do it.

Thursday links on social entrepreneurship & nonprofit innovation.

To help me keep my thoughts in order and to keep my readers up to date, I have started this post to bring together the important links on social entrepreneurship over the last couple weeks. There is going to be a great mix of articles and blogs from all over the internet, social entrepreneurship is in many forms. Every other Thursday I will post a few links from the web I have come across during the week.

What has happened the past couple of weeks in social entrepreneurship:

Growth in the Nonprofit Sector

Should the Government Dissuade Charities From Forming? - Philanthropy.com

This article discusses the place of government in limiting the amount of new nonprofits formed.

Nonprofit vs. Small Business

FT.com / Wealth - Charity must harness power of politics

This article explains the possibility of return on investment in the nonprofit sector.

Note to Small Businesses: Nonprofits Feel Your Pain (and Your Joy)

Small businesses and nonprofits are a lot alike.

Non-Profits are Not Businesses « CFC Treasures by Bill Huddleston

An article about the differences in nonprofits and business, although many nonprofits take on some businesslike operations.

Should Philanthropy And Business Mix? - Philanthropy.com

Philanthrocapitalism, is it good or bad for the nonprofit sector? Another skeptic about businesses taking on nonprofit ventures.

Examples of great social entrepreneurs.

Social entrepreneurship: Innovative care for the elderly

A great example of what social entrepreneurs are doing in the nonprofit sector.

microfranchising: Franchises for Kids in U.S., could it work elsewhere?

Social venture and youth.

Keeping your social entrepreneurship sustainable.

The Entrepreneurial Mind: Social Ventures Need to Have Market Relevance

An entrepreneurs take on being effective…you have to do it.

The business of doing good: How to start a social enterprise - 11 Apr 2008

An article about the UK’s social enterprise sector and how to get involved in social enterprise yourself.

Social Innovation Conversations | Stanford Discussions | Jennifer Aaker

A podcast on creating a strong nonprofit brand.

Mission based Innovation

Social Innovation Conversations | Stanford Discussions | Chip Heath

A podcast about missions that inspire.

When Tech Innovation Has a Social Mission - New York Times

This article discusses social enterprise in the world of technology. Techsoup is a great example.

6 Keys to Developing Your Initiative : Brazen Careerist

A great article about developing the habit of action and taking action now.

I Blew Off the Boomer Advice and Got Started on My Dream Right Away : Brazen Careerist

As a Millennial you sometimes have to go with what you think is best. Baby Boomers have good advice, but it’s not always the right advice.

I have an idea, where do I put it?

Every day a thousand ideas, well at least it seems that way, run through my head. I am one of those people that just cannot shut their brain off. I am actually really lucky to be able to sleep at night.

So while working, during class, while watching TV, while reading a book, if I get a new idea or am randomly thinking about a project I always have to write it down.

A pen and paper aren’t always handy, but when there is some handy I find it easiest to write it down and then compile all my random thoughts a couple times a week.

I have one notebook where I like to write down notes during meetings, or in class, or while reading. This has helped me immensely. I have been able to keep all my thoughts in one place, instead of ten random notebooks, one for each group or project, and its small enough I can take it anywhere.

After writing them all down and either bookmarking websites, or putting them in my BackPack I have to take the time to go through them and decide what is important to do first and what to put on the back burner. You should see the list of books I need to read, but have yet to organize.

In my to do lists I have found the easiest way to keep track of priorities is to list them as Do Today, Do Tomorrow, Do Eventually.

Here’s an example of what my pages look like. This is my Interesting-Check it Out Page.

Although I don’t always get to the do tomorrow, or do eventually lists, I do sometimes move things up and it is gratifying when that happens.

I have tried other methods to stay organized with no avail. There is technology to be able to send your self a reminder, or online personal assistants, but I keep finding the best way for me is to go back to the good ole pen and paper and To-Do lists. There is something gratifying about having a list of stuff to check off and paper around an idea to expand it.

My next step is to decide whether or not to keep a written calendar again and not use my phone, that one could be hard though, there could be just too much whiteout involved!!

What are your favorite organization methods for ideas and To-Do lists?