I am engaged in a rather enlightening and challenging voyage of personal self-discovery. I recently decided to commence what my wisest of friends have affirmed is an act of courage. It is just this: To realize that I cannot do it alone, and that I must ask for help.
My non-profit, the Hudson Education Center (HECMusic.org) is an innovative after-school program that develops local youth into teams of performing artists that go out into the community, sharing their gifts at senior retirements residences, youth camps, and highly specialized schools for special needs students. Our young members gain leadership and team-building experience. They get better as performers, and build their resumes.
My Board of Directors is excellent. We are growing. And ultimately we will go into other areas: environmental education, local economic development. We will serve public schools, private and charter schools, even home schools, with self-funded teaching resources that can create highly-qualified team-teaching environments in schools and programs that are constantly being de-funded.
Great idea, right?
It depends on who you talk to.
At the present time, my role as Managing Director of HEC involves a lot of hours, at a very low pay rate. My heart and my passion is in building HEC. I believe that my unique gifts are very well-utilized in building these programs. I believe that, by following my heart and my gifts, the rewards will follow. The Lord, that can count the decreasing number of hairs on my head, notices, and He will take care of me.
As my hours go up, and my hourly rate goes down, my bills do not change at all, and if they move in any direction, it is "up." And this is where the "Ask for help " comes in .
I spoke to a pastor. I spoke to some of my board members. I asked a Christian friend or two. I looked at what the experts say. And the consensus is . . . "Ask for help." The decision made, I felt liberated. Within five minutes of making the decision, and telling a confidante about it, one of my creditors came to me and told me they were canceling my debt, so that I could take care of my bills and build the Hudson Center. This person did not know about my decision.
So, at this point of early momentum, I went to someone that knows how to grow money: a banker, a friend, and a leader in a very large local church. With enthusiasm and a positive outlook, I told him, in our initial phone conversation: "I need help, and would like to meet with you for advice." My goal was to get some ideas from him on increasing the cash into HEC. But before I could finish my sentence, he said:
"The first thing you've got to do is get a job."
Huh? I have a job.
I selected this kind (or so I thought) man, because I thought he understands money. I know that he and his circle of professional contacts could have financed one month of our operations with very little sacrifice. They can help us build awareness of our programs. They can do a number of things that don't involve writing a check!
But I was floored.
A man that can personally ensure the success of a $1 Million capital improvement campaign, can't even entertain helping raise a couple hundred dollars, for a program that operates without a facility, but that is specifically focused on living, breathing, thinking, loving, needing, hurting, senior citizens and children. And it is done through the gift of . . . music.
Help me understand.
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