Over the holidays, I visited a nonprofit to tour the space for an event. They were housed in a beautiful building that had once been a church.
As we walked into the main hall, I was taken aback because in the pews were 122 papier-mache statues of their former and current employees.
Each statue was personalized to look like the employee. The statues themselves were about four-feet tall, staring ahead at an empty stage.
At first, I was a little creeped out. Thoughts of Chucky coming to life played through my head. Then, I was amused and now I think it’s genius (if a little bit weird).
Why?
Because it’s remarkable. As in, worthy of being remarked upon and therefore memorable.
Too often in nonprofit, we play it safe. We fear claiming an edge. We are afraid to be remarkable. We’re wary of being too quirky, too weird, too out-there, worried that we’re going to alienate some people.
The sin of being boring is far worse than the sin of risking offense.
When we do things that are remarkable–that set up apart from the rest–we help our people to find us. We also help people who are not going to be “our people” from wasting their time (and ours).
Your people are hungry for you to gather them and lead them with your own voice, style and mission.
Have the courage to be remarkable, even if some people will not like it.
Because your people, your 1000 true fans, will love it.
These are the statues. I think they come to life at night and have meetings.
