Once every month, I look at all my activities for the last 30 days to see how they align to my longer-term objectives.
So, for you as a MGO, one of your objectives might be to increase the number of meaningful connections you make with your caseload donors. When you look at the last 30 days, how did you do? And if you did not increase the number of meaningful connections, what activities were you engaged in that prevented you from doing that?
This kind of regular analysis is important to do because it assures you stay focused on doing the right things.
Here’s why.
One of the realities of being human is that we have way more interests that we have time to fulfill them. This means we are constantly bombarded by distractions – those enticing things that come our way and tempt us to get off course.
It happens constantly.
Just now, as I was writing this blog, a thought flew into my brain about a new ear plug that does a far better job of blocking sound than those rubber/sponge ear plugs. What did I do? I stopped writing the blog, went on the internet and spent 20 minutes researching those ear plugs.
This is not uncommon. I constantly have to force myself not to look at the email that just came in or the text message ping or the call from someone I really want to talk to or the invitation to do something else with my time this morning, etc.
You know what I am talking about. And that’s just what is happening in our heads.
Now, add to that all the people around you who are asking you to do other things or, by force of authority, requiring you to do other things:

• “Need your help with that event.”
• “Gotta have you call that new donor that came in. I know they aren’t on your caseload, but it will just take a minute.”
• “Could you run our board member to the airport?”
• “Need some help unloading the van.”
• “Rick didn’t come in today so I need you to cover for him for a couple of hours.”
• Etc., etc.

Distractions that get you off point and render you less effective.
That’s why it’s good to stop and check how you are doing with your focus and objectives. Because the more time that passes, the more you will have moved away from doing the right things.
And in major gifts the right things are:

1. Talking to the right donor – that donor you have qualified, who wants to relate to you, and who is on your caseload.
2. Having a goal for every donor on your caseload.
3. Having a customized personalized plan for every donor on your caseload.
4. Tirelessly working that plan
5. Constantly telling the donor that her giving is making a difference.
6. Personally visiting program sites so that your head stays fresh with information about what you are doing and your heart stays warm about the need.

This little list right here could be the list of objectives that you use to check your activities every month. Try it. I guarantee you will be more focused. And that focus will cause greater success.
Richard