MasterView

People don’t seem to get it. NOBODY likes receiving junk email yet it still comes. I can only assume that if companies are stupid enough to send out junk email in massive amounts they must be willing to accept the fines that go along with the junk.

Now it seems to be getting worse. I am now receiving junk emails trying to sell product through the response to the blog. Is nothing private anymore? Do companies really need to hound us at every corner to buy their products. I just hit the junk button and the comment or email is gone and I would suggest you do the same. When enough people say no, maybe they will go away. Or, turn off the comment option…that works as well.

I am sure that is not seeing through to the root of the problem. Arrogance and greed are likely the motivators for all of the junk email and garbage sites on the internet. Greed provides the fuel for attitudes that dominate the selfish acquiring of more things so that someone can eventually die saying I had the most money. Greed is the motive for most big corporations and small businesses. People are just never satisfied with what they have and so they want more and more and more. Greed businesses will tell you that they are trying to return a profit for the shareholders…bull. They just want more because it is a game.

Of course money gives way to arrogance. And it is arrogance that says I am better than someone else because I have money. Those people couldn’t be more wrong. The Bible is right once again…the love of money is the root of all evil.

That’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
Master Financial Planning Services Inc.
www.masterfinancial.com

Now that Christmas is past the the bills have arrived it is time to pay up. However, for some that is easier said than done. It is not that people intended to go deeper into debt by getting carried away with shopping but many are feeling the stress of their actions.

So, what is one to do when they are found in this situation?

First, don’t ignore the situation and hope the bills will go away. They won’t. It is important to make a plan to retire debt and start saving-yup, start saving.

Make a list of all the creditors and the amount owed to each one. Note the payment date and do not let that due date pass by. When one misses a payment date the credit card company records that against one’s credit rating. A credit rating is something to protect. Even, if one is to make a minimum payment – do it!

Look at the income and determine what can be paid to each of the creditors. If, one month you can pay off a creditor and give minimum payments to the others it is worthwhile.

Don’t forget – making that payment is so important.

Once a plan is written which would include a budget to manage one’s money, contact each of the creditors and tell them that a plan was prepared and that they will be paid in full. If the debt is excessive, consider asking them to stop the interest charges on the credit amount or at least reduce it. Do it, all they can say is no, but, if they are willing to work with you to pay down your debt, that request could save some money. And that is a good thing.

More to follow…..

That’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
Masterfinancial.com

One of the biggest “disconnects” in a church can be the Board. Sometimes the Board maybe a board in name only and leave the work to others to do or even the pastor, as if he/she isn’t already overworked. They show up at meetings, on occasion, and volunteer for a committee only when they need to. Some don’t give to the church or give little while others tithe their income to the church.

The role of the Board to is manage the affairs of the church and to assist the pastor in developing a strong and healthy church. A Board member should be looking for areas where their efforts could be placed or volunteering to join a committee to provide assistance wherever needed.

Board members should consider teaching Sunday school classes each week in addition to publicly supporting the pastor. And when it comes time to raise money for a project or a capital campaign, the Board member should be first out of the gate to donate to the fundraising effort. For certain, the Board needs to support the pastor in his/her teaching of a stewardship series each year in the church.

Fundraising is never easy and requires dedication and effort to get the job done right and so the Board needs to be supportive of all efforts regarding fundraising. When they congregation knows the Board supports the pastor they are more likely to join in with their financial support.

Board members play an important role in the life of a church and not all Boards are created equal. The church cannot afford to have a disconnect with the Board…it is far too important. And Board members should not forget that it is a temporary position and soon someone else will be doing what they were elected to do. If you are a member of a church Board then do you best because you are working for Jesus.

That’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
Master Financial Planning Services
www.masterfinancial.com

MBO & MBO MM & MBI

(Management by Objectives, Management by Outcomes, Moves Management, and Management By Intimidation)

Fundraisers need to know this. Can anyone remember back to Peter Drucker and other well know management consultants were selling the theory “Management By Objectives”? MBO, as it was called, was a concept that when to the afterlife but before it did, MBO messed up more than a few companies and careers.

Management would set goals, which defined the final desired outcome of a program. Objectives were the strategies used to get to the desired goal. Not a bad idea all in all.

The next management theory was “Management by Outcomes”. Oh, this was a great one. Goals were set, objectives put in place but the results were based upon exceeding goals. The problem with this is that it was like “yesterday’s” sales order. One would need to keep exceeding goals month after month and year after year.

Then can the big one, “Moves Management”. This followed setting goals and objectives and then focusing in on the next move to get to the goal. If all the steps were accounted for this might have even worked. The problem is the goal always seemed to be one move away.

“Management by Intimidation” quickly followed these theories. The MI theory practices often threatened or beat up the sales staff by threatening to fire someone if the targets weren’t met. This is prevalent in retail sector where most jobs are part-time or permanent part-time. What the heck is that? Someone is either part-time or they’re not. Permanent part-time…whom are they kidding.

For the most part management of people is or should be based on results and common sense. Setting goals is a good thing, but threatening people if they don’t reach and unrealistic goal…well who needs it. So, finding people who really care about their job and provide outstanding customer service is rare.

This applies in the retail sector, the charitable sector and every other sector you can name. It is not difficult, it is just common sense and yes, I have a university degree in Business Management.

Well, that’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
www.masterfinancial.com

For most people change is difficult. Many people can identify with the security and comfort of knowing what they are doing or where they are going. Knowledge brings that comfort and security, yet when someone steps our of their comfort zone one can become a little bit nervous.

Not all change is go. take the change in government in the US. Some people think that the change is good and others think it is all wrong. Which ever side of the argument you find yourself, you will have certain views and opinions. It is tuff to make a change in one’s life.

Getting married is a big change. It is difficult to adapt to the needs of another person but without making some changes the road ahead could be very rough. Change and adapt to another person’s life style is challenging at best.

Changing a career or changing jobs within your sphere of influence can be daunting and thereby one introduces the element of the unknown. Sadly, fear prevents many people from realizing their true potential. Only when one is brave enough to step out and expand one’s horizon will one really know if they have reached their true potential.

If you are in leadership do things differently and challenge the status quo. If you are fundraising for a client ask the donor for the biggest gift they have ever given to the organization and then do it again in four months. Don’t settle for ‘good enough’ because ‘good enough’ is never good enough.

That’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
www.masterfinancial.com

In our last blog we talked a bit about bracing the top as an indication of tone quality and support. In fundraising support for the activity is critical and often ignored. IN order for a guitar to sound great all the glue squeeze out must be removed with a stick or dental pick. The glue will deaden the sound and it will look poor. So action to the small details not only improves the quality of the sound it looks better…much better.

In a fundraising campaign paying attention to the small details will improve the quality of the ‘ask’ and it will look way more professional. When you are visiting with a donor and asking for their involvement in your campaign did you pay attention to the donor file? What do you know about your potential donor? What have they supported in the past? What are their hobbies? Where do they travel? Who else might they know in your organization? When did you last visit them and what was the purpose of the visit? Have you ever been turned down before when you asked for money? Have you asked for money in the past? How old are they? Do they have family? How much mail do they receive from you? have you ever taken them out for dinner or coffee without making an ask? How long have they supported your organization? How did they first get involved?

Spend time on the research if you want to get it right!

That’s the way I see it!

Monty McKinnon
www.masterfinancial.com