Grow gratitude. Now.

What we could use, right now, is a lot more gratitude in our midst.

I’m not talking about the thanks-in-passing to a stranger holding the door, or the appreciation for a neighbor kid shoveling your walk unasked, or the feeling of being blessed to be living in this town, in this weather, under this flag.

I’m talking about that way-deeper spot, the one we rarely reach. The spot where That Memory lives, the memory that creates a joyful ache each time we recall the gracious act that warms our life still.  

You know the one.

I say let each of us enrich our world. This very week.

Sit quietly. Recall the gracious act that creates the joyful ache that consoles and inspires you even yet. Bring that act to life … the person, the place, the way you felt then, the way you still feel … by writing it down. On paper, not a screen.

Then mail your memory to him/her/them with a cool Forever stamp from the Post Office. Your authentic gratitude will impact the recipient mightily and everyone s/he shows it to. Your mailed memory will also enrich you, your home, your street, our country, our world.

Grow gratitude, harvest generosity.

Upcoming GENROZT presentations

Thanks to Peter Gamber, a neighbor of Gladys Holm aka Teddy Bear Lady (cf. my chapter 9), I am guest speaker at the Evanston Kiwanis Club's lunch on Tuesday, October 22.

Thanks to Police Chief Frank Kaminski, I'll bring my GENROZT message to the Park Ridge Kiwanians on November 12.

And, thanks to the singular Becky Moore, to members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Springfield, IL on January 15, 2014.

GENROZT at AFP Conference

Using a tuning fork as a memory aid, I told last week's Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) conference about the three words needed to refocus philanthropy (and they aren't 'annual, capital and planned [gifts]').

They are:  Generosity ... which resonates with Gratitude ... the core of which is GENROZT (the memory of a gracious act that creates a joyful ache in each of us). Which is the philosophy of my book.

The 300 luncheon attendees were welcoming (hey, no rolls tossed my way), and my warm thanks go to those who brought me there (Grant and Morgan), and those who later stopped to affirm my focus... folks like Lynnea and Don, Joanne and Paul, Soudary and Shawn.

Crazy final idea I proposed:  let's change the organization's name from AFP to AG3P (Association of Gratitude & Generosity Growing Professionals)!

GENROZT at AFP Conference Oct. 8, 2013

I'm honored to be the luncheon speaker at this year's Association of Fundraising Professionals Midwest Conference on Philanthropy. It's Tuesday, October 8 in Rosemont, IL.

The Food Channel's 'Chopped' is keenest on chefs who transform, not merely blend, the ingredients they're given. That's the challenge I've been given too. And do it in the time it takes to make a decent egg salad sandwich.

GENROZT Now!

generosity-GENROZT e-book available!

With thanks to my wingman, Web Guru Dave, generosity-GENROZT is now available as an e-book at Amazon.com ...$2.99 ... give it five stars and spread the words with my thanks!

generosity-GENROZT and The Newberry!

Almost 90 days since first publishing, word arrived from David Spadafora, the Librarian of The Newberry Library here in Chicago (where you can handle - with white gloves mind you - 400 year old books). It's being processed into their fabulous collection!

Seven-year old Liam remarked that "it'll be a long time before anyone has to read your book wearing gloves, Dad". Yup.

Sisyphus be damned.

I wrote this 15 years ago. It's as true today as then. And needed even more.


There seems to be ever more job churn underway in development work. I believe that lack of recognition, not lack of salary, is a key cause.

At leadership seminars I've led, the most hands always raise to this question: How many of you have returned to your office with a significant gift to hear 'Fine, now you're only $2,433,000 short of your goal'!

Sisyphus comes to mind.

My recommendation: light one candle.

Schedule a regular monthly session with your Chairman/President/CEO for one purpose only. Bring one (1) sheet of paper and one (1) birthday candle. The paper describes the WHAT, HOW and WHY of your department's favorite victory that month (and it's not always dollars!)

For as long as the candle burns (my 2.5" x .25" test candle went for 18 minutes) you get to reflect and appreciate, together. Sisyphus be damned, celebrate!

Then book next month's visit and buy another candle.