We're taking the week off for Mardi Gras! Here in Mobile, Alabama, this isn't just a party—it's a tradition that goes back to 1703 (yes, before New Orleans existed). Schools close, businesses close, and the whole community comes out for parades. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

How do you know your programs are actually working? Not "we think they're working," but real evidence. Pat and Will talk through what "data-driven" means for nonprofits without data scientists or big analytics budgets, the five most common data mistakes, and how a homeless services organization discovered a "support cliff" by tracking just three numbers and then made a simple change that increased 12-month retention.

Crises don't check your calendar. Pat and Will walk through why smaller nonprofits are more vulnerable than you think, how to build a response plan in one afternoon, and real stories of what works when everything goes sideways.

Growth might be the worst thing that could happen to your organization right now. That's not a typo—it's the uncomfortable truth nobody talks about in board meetings.

In this episode, Pat and Will tackle the growth trap that destroys organizations. You'll discover why some of the healthiest organizations have been the exact same size for years, the four wrong reasons people pursue growth (and the three right ones), and how to create margin through ruthless prioritization.

Before Will moved into consulting, he spent years in professional theatre. And here's what nobody talks about: the skills that make great theatre are the exact skills that make great leadership. We're talking about why leaders who skip rehearsal end up winging it when it matters most. How "yes, and" changes everything when your team hits a crisis. What stage presence actually teaches you about showing up grounded when everyone's looking to you. And why ensemble work—not just teamwork—is what keeps organizations from falling apart under pressure. Plus real stories of when theatrical instincts saved the show.

Strategic planning and technology don't always feel like natural partners. But the right tools can transform your plan from a static document into a living system. We break down practical, affordable options for task management, document collaboration, and data tracking - plus real talk about why 70% of success has nothing to do with the tool itself.

A short holiday message from us. We're taking a week off to rest and recharge and we hope you are too! Happy Holidays!

Organizational coaching isn't what most people think it is. It's not executive retreats or motivational speeches. It's the three-minute conversation in the hallway. It's how you respond when someone brings you a problem. It's teaching teams to ask better questions instead of always looking for quick answers. We'll show you what coaching actually means, how it's different from managing and mentoring, and how to start building a coaching culture tomorrow—even with zero budget. This is about shifting from "tell and do" to "ask and grow," one conversation at a time.