Advertise on podcast: Motivational Muse by Kimberly B. Lewis

Many of us carry a long list of goals—but not every goal truly belongs to us. Some come from family expectations, comparison, fear, or the pressure to appear successful. Seven years ago, I read the book "Think and Grow Rich," by Napoleon Hill. Every year I lead my Mastermind Group in a study of the principles of the book.Before setting a goal, pause long enough to listen to yourself. Ask: If no one could praise me, criticize me, or compare themselves with me, what would I still want? Your answer may reveal a goal connected to service, creativity, freedom, family, leadership, or personal growth—not just money or status.

In the whirlwind of running a nonprofit, it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands – the grant deadlines, the program metrics, the donor calls, the team management. We're often focused on "making things happen." But today, I want us to pause and consider a deeper principle that fuels our work and elevates our impact: the power of increase, and the profound choice to dedicate ourselves to a good that is greater than ourselves.

Life has a way of showing up unannounced—an unexpected email, a hard conversation, a closed door, a new responsibility, a sudden change in plans. It can feel like life is pitching something at you, and you’re left to react. But here’s the truth that changes everything: every time life pitches you something, you get to determine what it means to you.

Nonprofits are feeling the talent crunch from every angle: pay pressure, burnout, and higher expectations around flexibility and growth. Even when people love the mission, they still need a job that’s sustainable day-to-day. Studies, surveys and countless articles try to shed light on the hiring and retention struggles today, but the path to success for nonprofits is still a hit or miss.

Be inspired to solve community issues as you listen to a conversation between Kimberly B. Lewis and Kiron Chandy, Founder and Executive Director of Consult Your Community, an organization that matches college students with small businesses to help them scale and thrive.

Vision and visibility often get treated as the same leadership concern. They are connected, but they are not interchangeable. Vision defines the future an organization is working toward. Visibility helps people see, understand, and support that work.

Nonprofit leadership attracts people with big hearts, high standards, and a deep sense of responsibility. It also attracts pressure—constant urgency, limited resources, and the quiet belief that if you don’t hold everything together, it will all fall apart. If you’ve ever felt like you’re the one standing between your mission and its next level of impact, you’re not alone.

The goals that make your stomach flip are often the ones tied to purpose—visibility, leadership, impact, change. They ask you to show up in a bigger way, and that can feel risky. Not just “what if I fail?” risky, but “what if I’m seen?” risky.

Episode 3 of Plated Perspectives is live. Do you know where your food comes from and why? Kimberly Lewis has a fun and candid conversation with Noah Wilson-Rich, CEO of The Biodiversity Lab on the importance of all of the wonders of nature and how it comes together before hitting our dinner plates. #Platedperspectives #motivationalmuse #goodwill #thebiodiversitylab

When we talk about leadership today, there is no question that women have made meaningful strides. Yet, when we look more closely at the data, it becomes clear that progress at the highest levels remains uneven—and in many cases, slow.

Emerging leaders don’t need a perfect title to lead—they need clarity, consistency, and the courage to grow in public. Use the steps below as a practical roadmap to strengthen your leadership identity while accelerating your career.

If a goal scares you, it usually isn’t because you’re incapable. It’s because you care. The goals that make your stomach flip are often the ones tied to purpose—visibility, leadership, impact, change. They ask you to show up in a bigger way, and that can feel risky. Not just “what if I fail?” risky, but “what if I’m seen?” risky

Nonprofit work attracts people with big hearts and strong values. Yet even in mission-driven organizations, leaders sometimes notice a quiet pattern: staff and volunteers doing the minimum, avoiding visibility, hesitating to lead, or staying “safe” instead of stepping into their full contribution. It can look like low initiative, inconsistent follow-through, or a reluctance to take ownership.

Freedom is often framed as a personal ideal—something we feel, claim, or defend. But in nonprofit leadership, freedom is also structural. It shows up in policies, budgets, board decisions, workplace culture, and the unspoken rules that determine who gets heard, who gets protected, and who gets to thrive.

Summer is for sunshine, community, and the kind of joyful moments that remind people why they care. For nonprofits, it’s also the perfect runway into fall fundraising season. When you connect summertime fun to a clear fall plan, you turn warm-weather engagement into year-end impact. Below are practical ways to enjoy summer while quietly (and smartly) setting up your strongest fall campaign yet—without losing the magic of the season.