CONNECTORS

Malcolm Gladwell contrasts Paul Revere and William Dawes in his book “The Tipping Point, How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference.” Gladwell believes Revere was far more effective than Dawes, who also rode to warn, because Revere was what he calls a “Connector,” a person with a special gift for bringing the world together. Connectors know lots of people. “Sprinkled among every walk of life, in other words, are a handful of people with a truly extraordinary knack of making friends and acquaintances. They are Connectors.”

Naturally, we expect fundraisers to be Connectors, but we can all be Connectors to varying extents. Merge Gladwell’s Connector theory with Seth Godin’s line “We get what we promote” and there is a means to transform ideas, services and organizations.

Heaps and heaps of people hesitate before spreading the word about a prospective political candidate or a new restaurant or an unknown product out of fear of looking silly -- or that we won't be able to get a table! We’re afraid one misstep will reflect badly upon us. It’s that paralysis that is hurting businesses and causes.

I’m feeling especially bad about not doing more to promote participation in GALLERY 659, the cooperative art gallery supported by Glencoe's Human Relations Forum. They closed their doors late in 2008. They mounted some wonderful exhibits featuring outstanding emerging artists. (I was in their January 2008 show.) Now they are gone -- the North Shore art community's loss is great.

Local non-profit organizations are worrying about having to shut their operations due to this economic climate. In February Public Interest Fundraising will host a symposium to talk about what to do. (Call for info: 847.881.8033)

The uproar over the closing of a favorite gallery or a charity should be enough to remind one that hesitation has its cost. Paul Revere’s ride is cited as the most historically significant case of word-of-mouth communication. In a world where supporters have power, as Barack Obama-voters demonstrated, people can make a difference. If you will miss an organization, a service, or a professional, when they close up shop, stand up, speak up and bring them oodles of new supporters.

There are many reasons for failure, don’t make it because you didn’t do enough.