The Election is Over – Let's Get Back to Work

Last week was a heavy one for many of the people I know who work tirelessly in nonprofits. And whether you supported Trump or Harris, I will take this week’s newsletter to offer some perspective that I have found useful: politicians come and go, but the work that you do through your organizations and businesses will last for generations.

I will not downplay the importance of the election. The President will have the opportunity to place judges throughout the country, promote policies that have a massive impact on our lives, and influence a culture that has become more and more divided over the last decade.

But when I woke up on Wednesday morning, the same sun was still shining, and the same squirrels were still searching hopelessly for acorns in my yard. It’s time to move past the election, and get back to work.

Your Potential for Generational Influence

The most impactful work has rarely been tied to the tenure of a single political leader. True change is often the result of sustained, mission-driven efforts that continue regardless of political shifts.

John D. Rockefeller was the driving force behind the current oil industry, revolutionized philanthropy by donating over $500M to charity, helped launch the field of biomedical research, and started the University of Chicago, promoting education without the distinction of race, sex, or creed. He ran his business during the tenures of 10 presidents.

Warren Buffet, worth over $125B, has pledged 99% of his wealth to charitable causes, including education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and other areas that will impact millions of lives. His company has survived 13 presidents.

Ruth Bader Ginburg led the fight against gender discrimination for decades, including successfully arguing five landmark cases in front of the Supreme Court while at the ACLU, before she became only the second woman to serve on the highest court in the land. During her trailblazing legal career, she witnessed 15 presidential elections.

So...Focus on the Work

Our work is rooted in long-term missions—to address needs and injustices that won’t disappear during or after just one election. Focus on the reason that you got into the work in the first place – what impact do you want to create? Focus on the reason your nonprofit was founded and the people it serves, and let that purpose guide you.

Whenever I used to feel the overwhelming weight of one of the projects we were working on, one of my colleagues used to say: “remember, it’s just work”. And then we would sit down and list out the tasks we needed to do that day and that week to move forward the work in front of us. It removed the heavy black cloud and refocused us on the task at hand. And that always created results.

Remember that real change often happens at the community level. Focusing on your local, tangible impact will keep you grounded in your mission and responsive to those you serve. And you will touch the people in your community in a way that national policies and initiatives never will.

Do work that has an immediate, direct positive impact. And build an organization that has a culture, mission, and people that will continue its impact for generations.

We each have the potential to create lasting change – but this is a marathon, not a sprint. Work done consistently with dedication, focus, strategy, and sincerity, over the course of decades, is the stuff that creates legacies.

I have kept this week’s message short and simple. Why? Because it’s time to get back to work...

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