If you didn't watch the Rose Parade and haven't yet heard the story of Meatball the Bear, check-out this Wall Street Journal article.
Meatball is a bear who's appetitite has brought him into the spotlight, at least temporarily. Meatball earned his name when seen rummaging through garbage and apparently having favored discarded meatballs. But this of course is not THE story. THE story is about a "disagreement".
Sadly for the preserve, an area entrepreneur got on Meatball's bandwagon ahead of the preserve producing revenue generating stuff. The preserve has challenged the entreprenuer's "right" to economic claims over the bear recognizing that it, the preserve, has to bear all the costs without any of the benefits. It want's all the benefits not just a "cut" as offered from the entrepreneur.
In the meantime, the two players compete while Meatball is still "hot" resulting in a dividing of the pot.
One lesson: nonprofit sustainability in today's economy (this is not really new though) demands marketing saavy ahead of opportunities. Meatballs don't roll-in every day but a saavy nonprofit should have it's plate ready for when just such an event might occur.
One solution: the Preserve should consider inviting its competitor to join its board. The two share a joint passion and perhaps strengthening the relationship could result in a win:win proposition for both by using some of the basic rules of negotiation: separate the problem from the people; distinguish between interests and position.
A sustainable new years to all!
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