Writing our way to a right-sized dream: Rebecca Nielsen (Part II)

In her guest post, Rebecca Nielsen (see Rightsizing our dream: Rebecca Nielsen), the mother of twin daughters, and a graduate of Harvard's MBA program, wrote "After each class I kept a journal of how my education in brand management, strategy, controls or finance would serve me in the non-for-profit arena – and I kept the dream tangible: someday I would run the American Red Cross."

I was impressed by Rebecca's discipline, and intrigued.

By keeping a journal, or 'telling her story' in real-time, could she also write her way to a right-sized dream?

My initial query was, "How can your mothering experience help you to continue to prepare to run the Red Cross?" She reframed with , i.e. "how is what I am doing now preparing me to make a significant contribution in the realm of humanitarian relief?"

Here's what she's written:

For the last month and a half I've kept a journal (about 2-3 times a week) focused on my thoughts about humanitarian relief as prompted or spurred by my daily activities as a mother.

Some entries related to interactions with my children, but for the most part I wrote about the current handling of specific disasters (e.g. the neglect of the junta following the cyclone in Myanmar, the efficient response to the earthquake in China, etc.).

My experiences as a mother are likely schooling me in qualities of character important to non-profit leadership; however, what this experiment confirmed is that my current lifestyle also grants me the mental space to digest much of what is happening in the global humanitarian aid arena.

The journal entries became a set of "lessons learned" as I observed actions of leaders and aid organizations through a variety of sources from The Economist and The New York Times to video conferencing with my parents who are among those on-the-ground in assessing the needs of flood victims in Romania.

I also found this type of exercise a satisfying complement to the physically and spiritually demanding role of caring for young children -- it enabled me to establish a balance in my thinking between the world and the home-sphere.

Both are real and relevant.

There are mothers who are struggling to feed their infants because of disaster and the rise in commodity prices. It made me grateful and humble and sometimes ashamed -- and drove some vibrant dinner-table dialogue about action we can take as a family.

Some observations:

July 3 -- Numerous victims of the cyclone in Myanmar fared fairly well in the absence of aid because they had developed certain life skills that enabled them to live off the land (they knew how to fish, etc.). To some extent ultimate aid is enabling individuals to hone skills and prepare stores to deal with a disaster themselves (although this isn't always sufficient). In the western world, fishing skills may be of limited use, but having 3-day-kits, food and water storage, financial reserves, and emergency education can be potent tools.

July 8 -- The response of the junta is particularly tragic because they refused support and denied access during the relatively brief window of time after a disaster when the world is willing to give its attention in the form of media coverage. Alas, the regime was focused on other priorities rather than maximizing the impact of the relief efforts!

July 12 -- There is a need for transparency to "investors" (i.e. donors) in the non-profit world as there is in the capital markets. Imagine a research house that analyzed various non-profits and provided return-on-investment proxies for various donations. Imagine investing in a mutual fund of non-profit organizations ("hunger fund," "malaria fund," "U.S. hurricane fund,") and then getting performance updates.

July 29 -- Gates and Bloomberg are combining efforts to combat smoking -- they have earmarked $500M for the purpose. It is exciting that the Gates Foundation will likely prove a rigorous vehicle for dispensing aid resources and creating new thinking around measuring performance.

September -- Although Hurricane Gustav only hit New Orleans as a Category 2 storm, local and national officials had anticipated a storm of the magnitude of Katrina or worse. As a result, the mayor ordered a mandatory evacuation, and 2 million people left the state. Should we fault officials for being over-prepared? No. We should chalk it up as a victory: taking thoughtful action on the best information available merits applause, regardless of the outcome.

Are any of the rest of you trying to figure out how to right-size your dream? Have you thought about writing your way there? Or to your dream -- period? Should you want to share, you have a forum here.

After reading Rebecca's post, I'm thinking that she and Belle L should connect. Don't you agree?

Has Sarah Palin's VP nomination increased the probability that Rebecca can achieve her dream?

Related posts:
It takes courage to tell our stories
Tell you story
Psyche's 1st Task: Sort the seeds
A philanthropic hero's journey: Luanne Zurlo
Rick Riordan's Golden Fleece

Comments

[LL]

I FOUND YOU! Fun, I look forward to sitting down and catching up on your blog. I must go add you to my bloglines.
Glad the pictures went well, I would love to see them!
Can't wait for the melting pot get together.
Thanks Whitney-

[Margaret Woolley Busse]

I love this post (partly because I love Rebecca!) but also because I love the idea of preparing for our dreams, dreams that we know can't actualize at the moment, because of current circumstances, but by finding ways to reserve some time in our lives to focus on that dream, which keeps us hoping and keeps the dream alive. I am mother of three children and expecting a fourth. I am not working at the moment, but do have "big dreams" and I have tried to craft a game plan of things I can do now to help me realize my dream in the future.

[Janna]

Perhaps the most promising portent that Rebecca can live out this dream is that the American Red Cross has been run by many women (many of whom are mothers as well)!

Wow, Rebecca. I really enjoyed reading your observations - particularly the one about non-profits reporting outcomes. While some relief is difficult to quantify, it's important to try to do so. I remember attending an after school program conference, and a Boston after school program administrator mockingly responding to such an idea, "What if our program's measure of success is, 'All of our students made it through the year alive.'" ...I guess you have to start somewhere.

As Whitney's writing question, I found "writing my dream" an essential part of the process. My writing took the form of a business plan, but that doesn't have to be the case for everyone.

One of my fondest memories is sitting in the SLC airport after an exhilarating day hashing out ideas with two good friends, with my fancy Bose headphones on, cranking up my iTunes and writing the beginning of a business plan on my laptop. Some of the first words that I wrote came straight from the heart and still inspire me: "We believe that we can help students flow with the increasing tide of academic competition and at the same time, develop a sense of self, empowerment, and soul. We believe that both academic achievement and these essential life qualities can be developed through superlative tutoring in a focused learning environment."

Yes! It felt great to write words that meant something - no, everything - to me.

As I wrote, one of my favorite Dixie Chicks songs came on, "Mississippi," and the words just couldn't have been more perfect for the moment:

"Well my ship's been split to splinters; it's sinking fast
I'm drowning in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, and smiling's free
I've got nothing but affection for those who've sailed with me

Everybody's moving if they ain't already there
Everybody's got to move somewhere
Well stick with me baby anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now."

Amen!

[Amy Jo]

I refound you. Have loved catching up on your blog. Loved the part two series; she has a similar dream as mine - emergency preparedness forum. The journal is a great way to stay connected and prepared for the future.

[Alyson]

I feel as if I am standing in the same moment breathing the same air. It is refreshing to be reassured from Rebecca's experience that there are ways we can remain involved and inspired to pursue a dream, not being able to live that dream in the moment. I have wanted to get back to helping children and families through psychotherapy, but realize that I am not in the space right now where I cannot hold and work through other people's problems. I have recently realized this limitation. It saddens me that cannot further extend my circle of influence to include another helping role in my life of that kind. Because this dream cannot be realized, I've found smaller helping roles in my community help to fulfill and bring me closer to my dream.

It wasn't until listening to your interview with Maria Carr that I was able to recognize that I have been pursuing a new dream. It has been immensely fortifying to find another dream for the moment, one where I can encourage and remind women that the decisions they make on behalf of their families are vital as are the messages that they tell them about food. Thank you, Whitney, for providing me such empowering and inspiring language which has helped to give direction to my journey. The simple act of labeling it "a new dream" has made it more meaningful.

[Christy Smith]

This is very strange that I find this website in search of a grant to write for a class I am taking. This has been very inspirational to me tonight as I read through this. My husband and I have raised our daughters and have recently started to pursue dreams we put on hold to raise our children. I am currently a student in child and family studies. I always had a dream of a degree in the subject because of my love for children and people. I will graduate this summer. I can't believe how close I am to it. My husband and I just last week were discussing how we could become volunteers for Red Cross. We have experience many tragedies in our lives and would now love to give back some how.