March 2024 Monthly Challenge: Inspiration Station!

Pam Holden

@Crystal Bruce
My Grandson, who was born several months prematurely and experienced health challenges his first year. He is now an inquisitive ball of energy, intent on experiencing new adventures, nurturing animals and ‘helping’ everyone he meets (he is almost 4). Seeing life through his eyes has brought a new appreciation to both work and home life - we cherish our relationships with family and friends on a much deeper level, and are thankful to have his influence in our life.

Amy Barker

@Crystal Bruce one of my favorite inspiration books is “The Subtle Art of not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson. It's cheeky, but helps me get out of my own way.

Allen Schagene

@Crystal Bruce something that has inspired me recently is the book “Influence is Your Superpower The Science of Winning Hearts, Sparking Change, and Making Good things Happen' by Zoe Chance. My favorite takeaway from this book is understanding that on my own journey, I need to provide myself with opportunities to be told no. Additionally, the way we frame a situation gives us the power to influence each other.

Allen Schagene

@Pam Holden such a sweet post. I happy that your grandson has brought such positivity to your life and has helped you grow as well!

Allen Schagene

@Heather Leonard I love this as well! Being able to find the peace and calm in stressful situations is tough, and I definitely exercise to let out my frustrations and to help me let things go.

Allen Schagene

@Ashley Crosby this post resonated with me so much. While some of us may be behind the scenes, I still find it important for the organization to show gratitude to these employees as much as they do the people working at the front. Without the behind the scenes magic, nothing works.

Claire Levin

@Crystal Bruce Belief in the power of young people

Don Burrhus

@Crystal Bruce My main source of inspiration is seeing how we (the university) change people's lives. My second source is the donors. When people make a gift supporting our efforts, in some sense they are holding a hand to our back, urging us forward to do more.

Markella Balasis

I recently watched a documentary about the Space Shuttle Challenger and learned for the very first time about Barbara Morgan. She was the backup mission specialist for Christa McAuliffe and would have taken her place on the flight if Christa had been sick/unable. She continued working with NASA despite what must've been a traumatic experience, to say the least, and eventually made it to space herself in 2007! I'm so grateful to have discovered her example of tremendous courage and perseverance.

Sergio Gonzalez

@Allen Schagene:

@Pam Holden such a sweet post. I happy that your grandson has brought such positivity to your life and has helped you grow as well!

David Hecht

I am so fortunate to be working with a Foundation at a school of higher education. I am so inspired by the students who achieve so much during their time at the university. I am amazed at the talent and passion with which they pursue their dreams.

Ann Fleming

@Crystal Bruce Watching young people that I know live their lives in their own way. Not choosing a “traditional” path, look, jobs, etc. and being so successful. I find joy in watching them shine in their own moments.

Amy Hentschke

@Crystal Bruce My sister, Heidi Fine, who passed away last year from brain cancer inspires me. She was joyful, content, loving and at peace even knowing she was going to die soon. She taught me how to live and die. Her inspiration was Mr. Rogers, so I guess he is also my inspiration now as well. It is so important to build a neighborhood in every situation and welcome and support all.

Carlene Johnson

@Crystal Bruce I've had the opportunity to see many people overcome addiction and maintain long-term sobriety. Hearing their stories, witnessing their commitment to changing their lives, and watching the miracles unfold is inspiring to me.

Christine Robertson

@Crystal Bruce I want to give a shout out to @Judith Youngblood. She has inspired me professionally and personally. I don't know many people who pour so much of themselves into brightening the world - through her work, her music and her fostering of pups. She is passionate and kind in so many ways.

Judith Youngblood

@Crystal Bruce I get inspired singing with the two professional choruses I'm in. The music itself can fill my soul, but the collaboration of the people around me is where the inspiration really lies. How to be your best self, yet blend with everyone around you and give yourself over to the leadership of the conductor - those lessons resound through many aspects of life.

I'm also inspired to do better when I realize people look up to me. Thank you @Christine Robertson for the kind words!

Joemar Turingan

@Crystal Bruce I get my daily inspiration from Dr. Becky Kennedy's book “Good Inside”. As a parent of twin boys, and a hybrid worker. It is always a struggle to keep pace with your day. Work/Life balance is a term that I struggle with when I do remote work. I am more of a juggler of what is in front of me that needs my outmost attention. Most often I end my day feeling defeated, and tired. But, that book kept me grounded, sane and hopeful that someday I will finally get things done. Finally, maybe a long, long, way but I still feel hopeful and happy in the end.

Vicky Lopuchowycz

@Crystal Bruce - I am blessed to get daily inspiration from the students at school. They are amazing humans and remind me that small things can make a big difference. I am involved in a few different groups and the things these young people are accomplishing and their forward thinking is quite amazing.

Hannah McKinney

@Crystal Bruce I am inspired by my children. They look at everything with fresh eyes and inspire me to find joy in everything I do!

Jennifer Kluh

@Crystal Bruce
I am blessed to get daily inspiration from the hospital community I work for, at our Grant summit we hear about projects and needs that inspires us to raise the money for these wonderful causes and it gives you a sense of awareness you didn't have before

Lauren Ballew

@Crystal Bruce In my early 20s, fresh out of college at my first nonprofit job, a coworker who found me working very late during what should have been a slower season told me that I was doing no one any favors by staying so late. “If there’s too much work to do in a reasonable work day, we need to re-evaluate your work load and our expectations. If you continue to work at this pace, you’ll either burn out or when you leave, your replacement will be set up to fail since they’ll be hired for a job we didn’t know was so big.” After a few discussions with her and my supervisor, we ended up reworking my position and hiring someone to help with the tasks, and I spent almost 20 years at that org without burning all my candles at both ends. It was a great lesson in advocating for myself and helping the organization structure at the same time.

Leslie Means

@Crystal Bruce I am inspirated by one of my co-workers! The way that she sees people and notices exactly what they need. She could tell I was getting frustrated by not being able to figure out a balancing issue and she left my a simple note reminding me of how smart I was. That very simple note helped me to refocus, recenter and gave me the motivation to keep trying!

Katie Farkas

@Heather Leonard
I have been trying to get more involved in a yoga studio near me! It's so great to hear that your instructor has had such a positive impact on you!

Amanda Rapant

@Crystal Bruce Belief in the power of change.

Being on the data side of fundraising/development, it can be hard to see the 'big picture' as easily as other colleagues or those in leadership, because I can get caught up and frustrated in the smaller, day-to-day or the logistics of creating ‘this’ or ‘that.’ At the end of the day, we're all playing a vital role in creating change!

Michelle Booth

@Crystal Bruce

I am inspired daily by the students at our school. Their kindness, adaptability, thirst for knowledge and skills. I am amazed every day by the things they are learning and how involved they are in the things they care about. It is a reminder for us to strive to be more involved in the things we care about and continue to learn.

Elizabeth Johnson

@Joemar Turingan I love Dr. Becky!

Wendy Albor

@Crystal Bruce I am inspired by all of creative people that I work with. Working for PBS is awe-inspiring from the engineers that keep us on-air, to the production team who creates wonderful programs, from the hard working education team that is out in communities helping educators, parents and children on how to use free resources to help educate and inspire and the commitment of the membership team to provide donors with entertaining events and access to our streaming services. I like to learn from all of these resources around me and enjoy the comradery that we share with the purpose to providing arts to our local communities.

Rachel Kauer

@Crystal Bruce

I had a very talented and experienced co-worker at my first fundraising position. She was semi-retired and working part-time but had been a standout Director of Advancement at multiple organizations in the past and also happened to have a degree in law. Her insight and advice were invaluable. She even helped me get my current job when I was ready to move on. I 100% think her detailed reference call made the difference in what was a very close call with multiple finalists in the interview process. I often think of her when I'm faced with a challenge at work.

Bianca Gonzalez

@Crystal Bruce I am inspired by the strong team I am surrounded by. They uplift me, encourage my growth as a development and data professional and give me professional insights that I find invaluable.