You’re laser-focused on your work and the bottom line, which of course is job one. Do you really need professional partnerships in order to have a successful business? Absolutely.
For Our Lady of the Wayside, working in isolation is a luxury that disappeared when the economy took a downturn. Back then, partnerships made all the difference between finishing our financial year in the red or black.
Fast-forward to today and it’s the difference between the agency existing and thriving. We rip down the blinds, throw open the windows and freshen our perspective with each meeting, interaction and discussion. New people and ideas bring important growth and outcomes that fuel our mission and vision.
Worth the investment
You already know that developing solid partnerships takes time, energy and resources. Is it really worth the investment? Yes, and I’m here to tell you that the portfolio Wayside has been able to build has a strong return on investment. Is it dollar driven? No, it’s relationship-driven. Every vendor, lunch meeting and cold call presents a chance to bring someone else into the huddle.
Yes, revenue is important, but what really makes sense is elevating our game by creating opportunities, and we’ve found that developing long-standing professional partnerships makes those opportunities happen. Now, the opportunities partnerships provide are in direct relation to the work put into cultivation. So we roll up our sleeves and break a sweat because the dividends are exactly what our organization needs.
Our Lady of the Wayside is a nonprofit that partners with like-minded organizations and individuals. Does that mean we only spend time with people like us? It couldn’t be further from what works for us.
Partnerships are the bedrock of our strategic goals, and diversity is an important part of our success. There are a lot of smart, experienced people in every corner of the marketplace, and to my knowledge no one has cornered that market when it comes to expertise.
Do you fix cars? Run a grocery store? Head-up a Fortune 500 firm? We can’t wait to meet you because everyone’s an adviser, and at the end of the day how the information is interpreted and next steps are calls we get to make.
Tell the story
We tell our story: what works for us, what challenges us, where we’ve been and where we’re headed. More importantly, we listen hard to the stories we’re told, and we’ve found that the takeaway can be profound for both sides of the conversation.
Can we use more help with IT? With transportation? In finance, fundraising or HR? You bet.
A day doesn’t go by that we couldn’t stand to improve our efficiency, effectiveness or bottom line.
On the flip side, could Wayside help you with IT? Transportation? Finance, fundraising or HR? As it turns out, we’ve learned a lot — and even better, we’re learning more every day. Let’s swap stories, because leaning into your strengths is going to make us stronger, and I’m confident we can bring something to the table for you.
Terry Davis is president and CEO of Our Lady of the Wayside, a regional leader in residential, respite, transportation and adult day care programming for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
