“Impact Venture Capitalists!”

Morning Team…

I forgot my glasses when I left the house this morning, so if I don’t spell at that well, now you know why. Not that my punctuation or grammar is any good in the first place, but today, specifically, it’s all a little blurred. 🙂

Life is like that, though.

Things are “blurry” as we fight to gain clarity.

I had to fire an employee this past week, actually, we let go two. One from two different companies. Which I never like to do. And I’m not always certain it’s the best decision, but decisions must be made.

Some companies claim to only hire A-players. I don’t believe that. If you only hire A-players, then you have all Generals and no foot-soldiers. An effective strategy requires both. It’s no different to operate a charitable organization. You need your founder and board of strategists. But you also need human-power. Not everyone has to be “Steve Jobs” smart, and extra-world brilliant.

But in my companies, they DO have to be connected to the purpose.

The mission.

And share the same set of priorities (as it pertains to winning as a team).

When there isn’t that? It no longer matters to me if someone is an “A-player” or even Steve Jobs himself, that toxic party must go. Or you risk allowing him and his self-interest mindset, to infect the the entire culture.

Impact Club is on the march, and me? I’m willing to sacrifice for it. I’m willing to bleed for it. I’m a slave to the mission and purpose of impacting local communities. Growing and Strengthening the Chain of Inspiration.

As my co-founder Ryan Sloper put it, in that picture above, as he spoke to Impact Club Northern VA at their 4th event. “In just 10-months, because of all of you, we have donated nearly $60K to local charities. But more important? Have built a Sustainable Philanthropy Engine.”

Hmm.

Sustainable. Philanthropy. Engine.

That is poetry.

Just 3 days ago, $17,000 donated to Fairy Godmother Project. This was Andie McConnell’s 2nd talk at Impact Club. Her charity was nominated and selected to present at the 2nd Impact Club as well.

That event, her StoryEngine was bested by Rob Scheer’s of Comfort Cases. But as we say, “Losing” at an Impact Club event doesn’t mean “losing.” It means, maybe, you’ll stumble into a bigger donation check next time. And Andie did. She crafted a great StoryEngine that connected deeply.

Good for her.

Good for Fairy Godmother Project too, and all the folks they Impact.

But, back to that employee.

Both of them.

I didn’t care if they were an A-player or B-player. What bothered me was their lack of commitment to our cause. When put in the trenches, they demonstrated an unwillingness to fight.

Which means, they were likely to get the rest of the team “killed.” Resulting in a failed mission. And Impact Club and the companies that fund it, are too important to the mission of being “The Strongest Community in Every Community”, to be submarined by any person not fully on the team.

Today, yes.

We are two people smaller. But for it, we are stronger.

For the record, I still can’t see.

(no glasses)

Hopefully, though, I’ve made my point. Commitment and dedication is what’s needed from every member of the team. What we’re doing here is too important – to neglectfully settle for anything less.

Here’s a look at the updated Leaderboard:

-RYAN

Co-Founder, Impact Club

PS: Whatever your venture is: Owner of a business, Charitable founder, Corporate executive, Teacher or Parent. Whoever needs to be on your team for there to be success in the mission, be sure that they are “all in.”

TED TALKS FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

As I’ve said from the start…

The Vision has always been greater than just donating money. You don’t change entire communities by “giving away money.” You do it through powerful story, and the amplification of those stories.

You do it with your voice! – Impact Club is just the amplification.

YOU (ALL) ARE THE STORIES.

Coming soon.

KEEP INSPIRING OTHERS!

Upcoming Impact Club dates:

Oct 24th – Impact Club Highlands (TN – 2nd Event)

Oct 26th – Impact Club Temecula (CA – 4th Event)

Nov 6th – Impact Club S. Canterbury (NZ – 1st Event)

Nov 13th – Impact Club Tri-Town (IN – 1st Event)

Nov 14th – Impact Club Frederick (MD – 4th Event)

Nov 14th – Impact Club Conejo Valley (CA – 3rd Event)

Dec 6th – Impact Club Boise (ID – 3rd Event)

Dec 7th – Impact Club Coeur d’Alene (ID – 2nd Event)

More announced soon…

By the end of 2017, we will have raised a million+ to fund local charities.

-Ryan Fletcher

Co-Founder, Impact Club – forever Grateful.

PS: Encourage everyone you know to learn the Language of Story. If they do, life, business, fundraising, relationships, the attraction of opportunity, clients, money, love, etc. will be much easier for them.