Being a Force for Good

I'm a little behind the times, I know.  But I'm totally ok admitting it.

Although Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits hit the shelves two years ago, I only recently made it a priority to pick up the book.  I have no good excuse for why I waited so long to read what The Economist named one of top-10 business books of 2007.  Except maybe that I always have way too many books stacked up that I want to read, the curse (or blessing) of growing up in a house where reading was pretty much a full-time activity.

But sometimes reading a book after the initial buzz dies down can be informative, allowing you to ask if it stands the test of time.  You might say that two years isn't all that long, but the change we've all seen since 2007 certainly shows that we're living in a dramatically different climate than when this book was released. The introduction speaks to the climate of old, of the "momentous" growth of the sector itself and support in the sector.  Of the "unprecedented amount of wealth flowing to charitable organizations from corporate foundations..." and big government being "out, and market-based capitalism" in.

Wait, hold on a minute.  That was 2007.  So do the six practices of high-impact nonprofits still apply?  They sure do.  In fact, I'll bet you that the nonprofits really embracing these practices are finding some kind of relief from the current storm.  I'm not going to get into the practices, so if you haven't read the book, click here to see what I'm talking about.  Better yet, buy a copy and add it to YOUR stack.

Toward the end of the book, there's a wonderful line about greatness. It says, "greatness is about working with and through others...It's about leveraging every sector of society to become a force for good."  I really like that and find that, although the authors are talking about nonprofit organizations collaborating with others to drive positive change -- and create real impact -- I also think it applies nicely to how individual people are forces for good.

Throughout the past week, with this theme weaving itself into my thinking, I have interacted with so many of these individual forces.  My neighbors, who turned out early on Saturday to help with the Charleston Horticulural Society's community gardening project at South Windermere, community leaders who are engaged in discussion about what will make our local nonprofit community stronger, and individuals like Ruth Jones, who took the time to share with me the good work being done by Social Venture Partners International, and Kendra Stewart, the director of the MPA program at the College of Charleston. Individuals who convey, through their actions, that we can make a difference and create positive change.

So, I have to say I'm glad I finally took the time to read the book.  I won't rue the fact that I waited so long.  I was certainly in the right frame of mind to embrace what it said and make it a part of my own thinking.

P.S.  Next on the list - Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential.  If you've read it and have an opinion, let me know.