Browsing Tag

Roy Goble

The Outsiders – NonProfit Management #3

This is the third post looking at how we can take the resource allocation checklist of The Outsiders by William Thorndike and translate it to the nonprofit world. Below are the next three on the list. Click here and here to see the other posts.

5. Focus on after-tax returns.

Obviously nonprofits do not have to pay taxes. So what can nonprofits learn from this advice?

Some corporations allocate resources toward investments that make a high profit but leaves them exposed to high taxes, which reduces their overall return on investment. So the wise corporations might take a slightly smaller …

Junkyard Management,

The Outsiders – NonProfit Management #2

This is the second post looking at how we can take the resource allocation checklist of The Outsiders by William Thorndike and translate it to the nonprofit world. Below are the next two on the list. Click here to see the first post.

3. Calculate what the return would be on all other opportunities and rank them according to the inherent risk.

Once you have defined what “profit” is for your nonprofit, then figured out a way to measure it, and finally decided what a minimal return on investment of your time, treasure and talent should be (all of which …

Junkyard Management,

The Outsiders – NonProfit Management #1

As I wrote last week, one of the things I appreciated about The Outsiders by William Thorndike was the checklist of ten things every CEO should follow when deciding where to allocate resources. But several people who read my blog — many in some kind of ministry work — said the corporate language doesn’t easily transfer to the nonprofit world. So what can a nonprofit leader learn from the list?

Below are the the first two on the list with my own perspective on how nonprofit leaders must handle resource allocation.

1. The allocation process should be CEO led.

Resource …

Book Reviews, Junkyard Management,

Resource Allocation – A Review of “The Outsiders” by William Thorndike

If you are in leadership then you probably spend time thinking about resource allocation. To simplify that phrase, you probably have had to decide where to focus your energy, talent, and capital. This is true whether you run a Fortune 500 company or coach a little league team.

It’s one of the most important things a leader has to do. Taking the time to do it isn’t always easy — there are so many things to do that seem urgent. But reflecting on our priorities is a necessary habit we all need to develop.

I recently read The Outsiders: Eight …

Random Thoughts,

Craziest Presidential Race, and Why I Might Run for President

Tomorrow morning we fly to Washington DC just as the craziest Presidential race in my life starts shifting into high gear. As I publish this post it’s not clear who won in Iowa, and it probably doesn’t matter that much, but you can bet it’s all I’m going to hear about for the next few days.

Six years ago, when my posts were long and my rants were funnier, I wrote this post about politics, and sadly things haven’t changed much. Thankfully, it appears the National Prayer Breakfast has grown to be more inclusive. I’ll try to focus on …