Swipe Right on Survival 💌
A Valentine's Day Gift for my Unkillable Cockroach CEO 🪳
Dear Impact Star,
Last week, we talked about being a Cockroach CEO, and your replies cracked me up! So yes, I had to drop a Valentine’s rhyme:
Roses are red,
Cockroaches are brown,
Your funding may be scarce,
But you won't go down.
Reality Check:The federal government just slashed USAID, NOAA, EPA, and DOE budgets like they were deleting a spam folder after a four-year vacay. Even if your impact is epic, relying on this funding source is not not a valid strategy anymore.
Even if you’re not affected by these cuts, this is a wake up call to build stronger, more resilient organizations, and become unkillable Cockroach CEOs.
Consider this your Valentine's Day gift - a Survival Guide for my Unkillable Cockroach CEO.
First: Diversify
Set your timer for 60 seconds and do this:
Assess:
Write down every place your money comes from.
Rate Your Risk:
On a scale of 1 to 5, ask: “How likely is this to go poof?”
Ideate Some Backup Plans:
In one sentence, jot down 1-2 alternative funding ideas. Think: private partnerships, foundation grants, innovative revenue streams. The goal? Spread those eggs across different baskets so you’re not left scrambling.
Second: Get Thrifty
Set your timer for 60 seconds and answer these:
Expense Share:
What costs can you split with another organization? (shared resources, tech tools, joint marketing.)
Cost Slash:
Which non-essential expenses can you cut? Get creative.
I know this is hard but it’s super important to be brutally honest. Trim the fat so you can invest more in what will help you survive. We can add things back in as revenues increase!
Third: Build Your Mafia
Set your timer for 3 minutes and write what comes to mind:
At least 3 people who can connect you to new funding or revenue sources: 1. ______________ 2. ______________ 3.______________
3 new relationships you’ll cultivate this month to fill in the gaps you see in achieving your funding / revenue goals: 1. ______________ 2. ______________ 3.______________
Your Action Steps:
Got just one funding source? Time to start swiping right on new opportunities.
Look at your expenses. Identify your 10 biggest ones. Run a red line through the ones that don’t drive real bottom line value.
Map your network. Who's in your corner when things get tough? Don’t have a great network? Read the P.S. about the Cockroach CEO Society.
May the Force of the Cockroach be with you,
Neesha
P.S. Reply with "ROACH LIFE" to collab on a peer group for CEOs who refuse to die. If there’s enough demand, we’ll create the Cockroach CEO Society. A sense of humor is required.
P.P.S. Thanks to David Witzel for his edits.
Legal stuff: Not financial advice. Talk to your advisors before doing anything.
Sent from Raleigh, NC with ❤️ Share it with someone who needs it today. We are stronger together.