As I reactivate things here at Ian’s Messy Desk, there is going to be a bit of a shift in content. While still focusing on personal development, leadership and management skills, productivity, and related tools, the overarching theme will be the not-for-profit/NGO environment.
NGO leaders face many challenges – both at a personal and organisational level. These challenges are distinct from those faced by governments or the for-profit sector. NGO leaders are often isolated and unsupported. It can be challenging to find qualified individuals willing to work in this sector. Often, someone gets thrown into a leadership role, without training or much in the way of support.
Through the content of this web-site, I hope to share some of my experience from twenty-plus years of not-for-profit management, as well as relevant experience from time spent in for-profit management.
Some things to keep in mind as you look at the content on Ian’s Messy Desk:
- I live in Canada. Much of my personal experience is influenced by Canadian law, practice, culture, etc. These things vary from country to country, and what works here may not work as well in a different country.
- I don’t know everything (the bleeding obvious). This content is based on my experience. Your mileage may vary. There are many successful ways of getting to a similar end. Take from this site what works for you, ignore what doesn’t, and add to the conversation by sharing your thoughts in the comments.
- I am not a lawyer, accountant, etc., etc. This content does not constitute formal recommendations. Always review your decisions with an appropriate, qualified professional
- Some links make money. The will be links I include in content that are affiliate links. That is, if you click the link, and purchase the product or service at the other end, I get a couple of dollars from the transaction. There are costs associated with maintaining a web-site like this, and any revenue I can generate helps with those costs. In the interest of disclosure, I will identify such links with the letters ‘aff’ in parenthesis. E.g., (aff).
I hope you find the renewed version of Ian’s Messy Desk to be useful. If you have comments and suggests, leave them on a post, or use the Contact page.
If you are interested in contributing content, please read the Guest Blogging Guidelines.