CHAULK Talk
A few weeks ago I wrote a series of six posts on LinkedIn called #ChaulkTalk (links are noted at the bottom of this reflection).
I created these especially for those who are regularly inviting people to join in support of amazing causes around the world. Although it’s an awkward spelling of “chaulk”, the “U” was needed to make the acronym work🤓. And, I love the colorfulness, creativity, diversity, and beauty that chaulk represents.
Compassion, Humility, Awareness, Understanding, Love, Kindness. CHAULK virtues stand as pillars to not only guide our professional conduct, but also deepen our personal growth.
At the beginning of each day, consider adding CHAULK to your time of prayer and silent reflection. If you are new to meditation, it might be helpful to take a glimpse at the routine I follow to renew my heart and mind:
- Find a quiet spot to sit with my favorite blanket and a cup of fresh coffee.
- Search for a “meditation” album on my music app and begin listening.
- Remind myself (often) that distraction is ok. I am able to regain my balance as many times as needed. I embrace and love returning to my heart.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes to end with a gentle notification (currently it’s Star Wars “Binary Sunset”).
The meditation begins (if you are interested in using this as a guided meditation, here’s the full 10 minute version):
Take five deep breaths…in through the nose and out through the mouth.
With each inhale, imagine receiving nourishment into your heart, mind, and soul.
With each exhale, imagine expelling toxicity from your heart, mind, and soul.
Continue slow gentle breathing.
🧠❤️Breathe in compassion and expel indifference
🧠❤️Breathe in humility and expel arrogance
🧠❤️Breathe in awareness and expel obliviousness
🧠❤️Breathe in understanding and expel misunderstanding
🧠❤️Breathe in love and expel apathy
🧠❤️Breathe in kindness and expel cruelty
Spend a few minutes allowing the faces of those you love, serve, and work with to come to your mind. Is there someone you feel particularly drawn to? Perhaps someone with whom you’ve struggled relationally? Envision them. Imagine your mind and heart filled with curiosity and grace toward them. Hold them in your heart and mind as you meditate on each word in the CHAULK acronym:
* Compassion - Allow yourself to feel with them…imagine their hopes, and empathize with their challenges.
* Humility - Acknowledge the desire to enjoy a healthy relationship with them; one that invites profound acts of trust and generosity. Pray for discernment to listen more than speaking, learn more than instructing.
* Awareness - Attune to their needs and motivations.
* Understanding - Seek to grasp their deeper motivations, personal history, and how these might influence their actions.
* Love - Commit to their well-being. Consider how you can serve them passionately and selflessly, ensuring that every interaction honors their dignity and intentions.
* Kindness - Ask yourself what it would mean to be profoundly humane toward them.
As you hear the gentle sound notification, take one final deep breath and go about your day.
Meditation, I believe, cultivates a sacred posture of curiosity. I’m struck by this every morning. My curiosity ‘mojo’ is full to the brim. I pray the same for you…that sacred curiosity is swimming through every nook and cranny of your being and your day.
How do you cultivate a mindful approach to relationships and responsibilities in major gift fundraising? There are so many beautiful ways to do this! I look forward to hearing how your meditations and prayers illuminate our great vocation and your personal interactions.
Links to the #ChaulkTalk posts on LinkedIn:
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This section is newly updated so give it a quick read before moving on...
If you haven't taken advantage of some of the resources I've created to help major gift fundraisers, take a look now! Initial calls with me are free and "no strings attached". Sometimes folks feel like they need to wait and not 'bother' me until they have a pressing issue. No need for that...just make the call. 🕺
Here's where you can access a lot of content for free:
* Follow me on LinkedIn - You'll get short pro-tips and reflections on major gift fundraising every day between 5-7am pacific.
* Breakthru Newsletter - As you've seen here, these are longer weekly posts (audio and written) sent directly to your email.
* Breakthru Blog - the newsletter from the previous week gets posted here each week for everyone (so email subscribers get it a week early).
* Breakthru Podcast - Interviews with high net worth givers about how we as fundraisers can get better at inviting them to the party. And audio readings of Breakthru Blog posts.
Before getting to the PAID stuff:
My opinion is that no small ministry with a tight budget should be spending more than $3-5k (total) for major gift coaching/consulting. Most of you will be good-to-go spending far less than that. This was a major issue for me when I was a frontline fundraiser - major gift consultants were an expensive 'black-box-of-confusion' for me. That stops now.
Here's the PAID stuff:
* Online Catalyst Course - This is a full brain dump of my 28+ years of experience - good, bad, ugly. It's built around the fundamentals, the sacredness, and the fun, of major gift fundraising. It's infused with Henri Nouwen reflections. Many people can take this course and they will be 'cooking-with-gas' and not need any additional coaching from me on the core systems. I'm grateful that this course has gotten *great* reviews.
* Live coaching with me - I refer to this as "brain rental". The ROI on live coaching, as you might imagine, is extraordinary.
Finally, I have a new team member named Ivana Salloum. She's super aweseme and she can help with scheduling and access to resources, etc.
I look forward to hearing about your good work!
Blessings,
