9 Things I Wish I Had Figured Out Sooner

Turns out trying to supercharge response by improving the writing is like trying to speed up a race car by installing better seat cushions. I spent lots of time on my crusade for better response. Experience has taught me there are much better ways to improve fundraising. They aren't as zippy, but they actually have impact. (Turbocharged response comes from high-level donor targeting, not better copy.) There's much more leverage in experience than in enthusiasm. On the other hand, experience without enthusiasm can be a curse. It devolves into cynicism and becomes a force against innovation. FS