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Almost Isn't Good Enough
Almost Isn't Good Enough - the new book from Wayne Elsey, founder of Soles4Souls and now Head Coach at Wayne Elsey Enterprises - reveals what is possible when one person resolves to make a measurable impact in the world after looking directly into the eyes of the suffering, hopeless, and forgotten. This book isn't an autobiography or another collection of leadership musings from a successful corporate executive turned philanthropist. It's an invitation to intercede on behalf of others because the human connection changes everything. Whether it's a simple act of kindness or the idea to start an international relief organization, everyone can do something to make a positive difference in the life of someone else. Promises, plans, and good intentions are a waste of time and a fruitless exercise absent of action.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2010
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48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 26, 2011
Almost Isn’t Good Enough http://amzn.to/i31nxk is call to live out the compassion of Jesus’ heart in a world of suffering and hopelessness. A man who decided one day to make a difference globally writes about what he has learned, hoping to challenge you to make a difference in your world in your generation.
Taking what he knew from his corporate experience, much like Moses took his shepherd’s rod, Wayne shares how he formed a non-profit organization that uses the best common sense to change the world, one pair of shoes at a time.
You will be challenged to rethink how organizations work, especially if you are in a non-profit, like the Church, and why they run. As you take Elsey’s journey with him, you will have some “Aha” moments saying to yourself, “Duh!” At other times, you might find yourself arguing with Wayne (OK, with the book) about the way he does things and why he does them that way. One thing is for sure; you will not come away from this read the same person. Any of the following may happen if you read this book:
• Excuses for mediocrity will melt away
• Lethargy toward mission will be challenged
• Methodology of inactivity will questioned
• Passion for the mission will be reinvigorated
• Compassion for people will be reignited
• Belief in one person making a difference will be enlivened
Elsey shares how his sophomore homeroom teacher, Mrs. Busch, instilled in him the belief that “you can do anything you want to do. Just do it.” That changed his life forever. He took that vigor into the business world of shoes and became very successful. Then came the terrible tsunami in Indonesia.
Touched and wanting to do something, Wayne couldn’t get the image of a single shoe washed up on the beach in a news clip. A few phone calls later and 250,000 pairs of shoes were donated for the people in need. Soles4Souls was born that day in his heart. It, and he, are motivated by this truth: “I’m tired of hearing sermons on what we should, might, or ought to do. It’s time for action. It’s time to gather our resources and leverage our excess to make a measurable impact. The time is now!” (Elsey, 10)
Twelve distinct principles flow through the pages of this book. You will benefit from each one:
• Eliminate distractions by practicing absolute clarity. (It’s important to be clear about your objectives and goals.) That absolute clarity helps the brand resonate with donors and clarifies organizational decision making.
• Build the community you want, not the one you can afford. (Whether for-profit or nonprofit, you get what you pay for.) Invest in people because people provide the substance of your organization’s ability to accomplish its work.
• Sustain impact by engaging others. (Most non-profits spend countless dollars trying to create awareness, which is a waste of time and money.) Inviting and empowering others to participate in our work is the key to sustainable growth and long-term impact.
• Create more margin to do more mission. (Cash creates margin.) Any increase in the bottom line increases the capacity of your organization to accomplish your mission in the lives of more people.
• Make decisions that take you where you want to go. (Why do some organizations spend countless hours in meetings discussing action while others spend countless hours avoiding meetings by taking action?) Empowering people with the resources and room necessary to choose the correct course will set the expectation that action is the most important element of success.
• Get off the couch. (Decision making isn’t the same as taking action.) Following through on decisions is what makes a measurable difference. It’s time to stop talking and start doing.
• Look for solutions bigger than the problem. (When setting out to solve a problem, the primary question should start with “how,” not “if.”) What’s more important – discussing process and following procedure or solving problems and making an impact?
• Progress only comes through action. (Taking action means you intend to accomplish something specific and measurable.) Organizations, as well as individuals, must decide to do something significant, which will build a legacy to be remembered in the hearts and minds of those we have the ability to help.
• Obsess over numbers. (Goals shape an organization’s decision making and drive people to action.) Obsessing over the numbers holds everyone accountable and accelerates the intensity of the effort.
• No more excuses. (A predisposition to action creates an environment with zero tolerance for lingering problems.) There are only three options in the midst of any challenge: 1. Find a way to solve it; 2. Stop wasting time on the issue at hand if it’s not possible to fix; or 3. Invent a solution that hasn’t been considered.
• Get comfortable with chaos. (Managing an organization never leads to innovation. Empowering an organization does.) Those who don’t thrive in the midst of chaos don’t last long very long in a results-based environment. There is no room for ordinary schedules, balanced agendas and to-do lists, or excess water cooler meetings.
• Look out the windshield, not in the rearview mirror. (Failure is part of the equation of success.) The key is not to let the unknowns paralyze you from taking action and striving to make a measurable impact. Never let organizational bureaucracy interrupt progress.
Throughout his read, you will be stretched, because Wayne uses these principles to get mission done – in a non-profit! Yes, you can change your corporate climate. Yes, you can accomplish your mission. Yes, you will have to change some (or many) of your preconceived or indoctrinated methodologies.
Accomplishing your mission is worth all of this because people matter!
Taking what he knew from his corporate experience, much like Moses took his shepherd’s rod, Wayne shares how he formed a non-profit organization that uses the best common sense to change the world, one pair of shoes at a time.
You will be challenged to rethink how organizations work, especially if you are in a non-profit, like the Church, and why they run. As you take Elsey’s journey with him, you will have some “Aha” moments saying to yourself, “Duh!” At other times, you might find yourself arguing with Wayne (OK, with the book) about the way he does things and why he does them that way. One thing is for sure; you will not come away from this read the same person. Any of the following may happen if you read this book:
• Excuses for mediocrity will melt away
• Lethargy toward mission will be challenged
• Methodology of inactivity will questioned
• Passion for the mission will be reinvigorated
• Compassion for people will be reignited
• Belief in one person making a difference will be enlivened
Elsey shares how his sophomore homeroom teacher, Mrs. Busch, instilled in him the belief that “you can do anything you want to do. Just do it.” That changed his life forever. He took that vigor into the business world of shoes and became very successful. Then came the terrible tsunami in Indonesia.
Touched and wanting to do something, Wayne couldn’t get the image of a single shoe washed up on the beach in a news clip. A few phone calls later and 250,000 pairs of shoes were donated for the people in need. Soles4Souls was born that day in his heart. It, and he, are motivated by this truth: “I’m tired of hearing sermons on what we should, might, or ought to do. It’s time for action. It’s time to gather our resources and leverage our excess to make a measurable impact. The time is now!” (Elsey, 10)
Twelve distinct principles flow through the pages of this book. You will benefit from each one:
• Eliminate distractions by practicing absolute clarity. (It’s important to be clear about your objectives and goals.) That absolute clarity helps the brand resonate with donors and clarifies organizational decision making.
• Build the community you want, not the one you can afford. (Whether for-profit or nonprofit, you get what you pay for.) Invest in people because people provide the substance of your organization’s ability to accomplish its work.
• Sustain impact by engaging others. (Most non-profits spend countless dollars trying to create awareness, which is a waste of time and money.) Inviting and empowering others to participate in our work is the key to sustainable growth and long-term impact.
• Create more margin to do more mission. (Cash creates margin.) Any increase in the bottom line increases the capacity of your organization to accomplish your mission in the lives of more people.
• Make decisions that take you where you want to go. (Why do some organizations spend countless hours in meetings discussing action while others spend countless hours avoiding meetings by taking action?) Empowering people with the resources and room necessary to choose the correct course will set the expectation that action is the most important element of success.
• Get off the couch. (Decision making isn’t the same as taking action.) Following through on decisions is what makes a measurable difference. It’s time to stop talking and start doing.
• Look for solutions bigger than the problem. (When setting out to solve a problem, the primary question should start with “how,” not “if.”) What’s more important – discussing process and following procedure or solving problems and making an impact?
• Progress only comes through action. (Taking action means you intend to accomplish something specific and measurable.) Organizations, as well as individuals, must decide to do something significant, which will build a legacy to be remembered in the hearts and minds of those we have the ability to help.
• Obsess over numbers. (Goals shape an organization’s decision making and drive people to action.) Obsessing over the numbers holds everyone accountable and accelerates the intensity of the effort.
• No more excuses. (A predisposition to action creates an environment with zero tolerance for lingering problems.) There are only three options in the midst of any challenge: 1. Find a way to solve it; 2. Stop wasting time on the issue at hand if it’s not possible to fix; or 3. Invent a solution that hasn’t been considered.
• Get comfortable with chaos. (Managing an organization never leads to innovation. Empowering an organization does.) Those who don’t thrive in the midst of chaos don’t last long very long in a results-based environment. There is no room for ordinary schedules, balanced agendas and to-do lists, or excess water cooler meetings.
• Look out the windshield, not in the rearview mirror. (Failure is part of the equation of success.) The key is not to let the unknowns paralyze you from taking action and striving to make a measurable impact. Never let organizational bureaucracy interrupt progress.
Throughout his read, you will be stretched, because Wayne uses these principles to get mission done – in a non-profit! Yes, you can change your corporate climate. Yes, you can accomplish your mission. Yes, you will have to change some (or many) of your preconceived or indoctrinated methodologies.
Accomplishing your mission is worth all of this because people matter!
December 20, 2012
About time someone wrote a prescription for how to help a non profit thrive and eventually survive. The observation of the number of non profits in this country, related to the number that are making much of a difference was cogent.
Although not everything in the book can be applied to our organization much of it can. We have been very successful on a volunteer model consequently "pay for services" sounds too foreign! But intriguing! On the other hand, some of the organizational and operational methods employed at soles4souls, like the "one sheet" idea, may work well.
All in all, the book is thought provoking. Would love to sit down with Wayne one day over a cup of coffee and get his take on a few of the line level issues I deal with.
Although not everything in the book can be applied to our organization much of it can. We have been very successful on a volunteer model consequently "pay for services" sounds too foreign! But intriguing! On the other hand, some of the organizational and operational methods employed at soles4souls, like the "one sheet" idea, may work well.
All in all, the book is thought provoking. Would love to sit down with Wayne one day over a cup of coffee and get his take on a few of the line level issues I deal with.
January 10, 2016
The greatest lesson I learned in this book is that all you have to do to change the world is "Get off the couch." That's where Wayne was when he watched history, in the form of a tsunami, unfold before his eyes. Instead of feeling powerless to do anything, he used what he knew to affect a change that is still being felt today, in ways he probably never envisioned.
This book will absolutely inspire you to get off your own couch, as I did mine. And, it's a very, very fast read. Absolutely worth your time.
This book will absolutely inspire you to get off your own couch, as I did mine. And, it's a very, very fast read. Absolutely worth your time.
December 20, 2012
As someone who has spend most of my life working in a non-profit setting, I was shocked how much I learned in this book. Wayne has a great way of sharing wisdom that only tough experience brings. If you want to be a mover and shaker, reading this book will allow you a chance to learn from the best.
February 17, 2011
I loved this short, concise, easy-to-read book on doing the right thing. "Our fortune comes with an obligation to share the promise of tomorrow with others."
December 20, 2012
Wayne's story is so inspiring and it actually makes you want to get up off the couch and DO something! Thanks Wayne!
May 30, 2013
Don't need to be a non-profit to glean great ideas for any business. Elsey readily shares his no nonsense business approach. I jotted/hilighted a lot. A reference I will keep near me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews