Wonder More About Your Wonders

Tom Iselin
Jun 9, 2015
3 min read

Updated: Dec 13, 2025

It's been said, "There is no shortage of wonders, just shortage of wonder." We often focus on all the troubling things going on at our nonprofits. Take some time to focus on the good.

Focus on the Wonders, Not Just the Rubble

Picture this. I’m standing at the top of Summit Creek in southern Idaho, with Devil’s Bedstead rising in the background. Snow-capped peaks. The headwaters of a creek. Spring snow still hanging on. Wildflowers everywhere.

It’s one of those places that makes you stop and breathe.

And it got me thinking about nonprofits.

Every Organization Has Its Own “Mountains”

Just like this landscape, your organization has its own wonders.

You have:

Your own mountains
Your own creeks
Your own wildflowers

Moments of beauty.Moments of progress.Moments of impact.

They may not always be obvious when you’re buried in the work—but they’re there.

The Trap of Focusing on Rubble and Deadfall

Every nonprofit also has rubble.

Problems
Setbacks
Staffing issues
Funding stress
Programs that didn’t go as planned

That’s normal.

All organizations have deadfall.All organizations have messes.

The mistake is letting those things consume your attention.

What You Focus on Grows

When leaders focus exclusively on:

What’s broken
What’s missing
What’s frustrating

Morale drops.Energy drains.Perspective shrinks.

But when you intentionally focus on what’s working—even in the middle of challenge—something shifts.

Hope returns.Clarity improves.Momentum builds.

Take Time to See What’s Going Right

Here’s a simple but powerful exercise:

Ask yourself—and your team:

What’s wonderful right now?
Where are we making a real difference?
What progress are we overlooking?
What are we proud of?

These questions don’t ignore problems.They balance them.

Perspective Is a Leadership Skill

Standing on a ridge makes it easier to see the whole landscape.

Leadership requires the same thing:

Stepping back
Gaining altitude
Looking at the organization as a whole

Details matter—but they shouldn’t blind you to the bigger picture.

Choose What You Dwell On

You don’t have to ignore the deadfall.

You just don’t have to live there.

Deal with what needs fixing.Address real issues.Make hard decisions.

But don’t forget to notice:

The beauty
The progress
The people
The purpose

Summary

Ask yourself today:

What is wonderful about our organization right now?

Focus there.

And remember—always do what’s right for your nonprofit, not what’s convenient or easy.

Tom Iselin

Rated One of America’s Best Board Retreat

and Strategic Planning Facilitators

About the Author

Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.

Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.

Board Retreats & Strategic Planning

If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!

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