Thankful for the Ankhacia in YOU

When people first hear the name of my company, Ankhacia Enterprises, they note how unusual it is, then ask what it means. I explain that it’s a fusion of two ideals—life and endurance –ideals that I want to represent in my work and that I want the nonprofits I work with to represent to their stakeholders.

Though it may sound contrived to some, ankhacia came to me quite intuitively. I didn’t do any polls, surveys or contests. I didn’t use the Yellow Pages alphabetical rankings technique, or research popular branding trends.

No, it was constructed from a career full of awe-inspiring experiences with mission-driven visionaries who braved the naysayers and put their passion where their mouths are.

It reflects and projects what is and what can be for every nonprofit I encounter because to me ankhacia is more than the name of my company; it is a state of mind and being that I believe nonprofits need in order to eclipse the confines of their circumstances and truly realize their missions.

So, as we’re in the season of thankfulness and giving, I appreciate and acknowledge the ankhacia in your:

Spirit. Without exception, every effective and exceptional nonprofit leader I have ever met possesses the kind of warrior spirit that takes them to places lesser men fear to tread. I don’t mean to wax poetic, nor sound abrasive but you already know the war zones within which you live and work.

You’re fighting not only the symptoms of the neglect that led you down the down the path to a third sector solution, but the misguided and ill-informed “powers that be” that believe those symptoms will either fix themselves, aren’t as serious as even a blind man can see they are or are flat out non-issues (in their world anyway).

To nurture ankhacia, take some time right now to: Rest some, play some and plan some. Your spirit needs care and feeding. Help strengthen it to fight another day.

Service. I am inspired and moved by all the stories you’ve shared with me this year about your decisions to begin to, or get more involved in being the change you want to see in your communities. You stopped looking around and waiting from someone else to say “I’ll do it” and figured out how to get it done yourself. You made the commitment and brought others along because you knew you’d be stronger working together.

While you may wish you were further along in accomplishing your mission this year, you are motivated by what more there is to achieve in 2015.

To empower ankhacia, take some time right now to: Inventory your leadership skills, reaffirm your resolve and strategize your next moves. Do this service for yourself as well as your organization.

Sacrifice. Standing on the courage of your convictions is not for the faint of heart. I know there were many mornings this year that you woke up excited yet petrified by what you’ve gotten yourself into with this “nonprofit thing”. While you’re making a world of difference with your work, there’s an opportunity cost to your time, relationships and money.

Lots of it, perhaps. On the good days your see these sacrifices as “challenges”; on bad days, they’re just straight-up trouble.

To leverage ankhacia, take some time right now to: Review your finances and make a budget for yourself as well as your nonprofit, review your calendar and schedule critical 2015 activities (vacation time, doctor appointments and professional development opportunities), and call dear friends and family to say, “Hey, thank you for supporting me this year. Let’s get together (date and time).”

To the fearless nonprofit leaders that trusted the ankhacia in you to manifest some incredible feats this year, many thanks. I’m so proud of your achievements and am honored that you allowed me to witness your elevation.