Books and eBooks
Mission to Systems™ is drawn from twenty years of building Develop Africa — including the IRS Form 990 data, the program failures, and the structural turning points. This is not theory borrowed from a consulting firm. It is documented practice from a founder who made the mistakes this book teaches you to avoid.
The book moves through five stages of nonprofit institutional maturity — each with frameworks, From the Field stories, decision checklists, and founder toolkits drawn directly from real organizational history.
This first volume introduces 10 keys or lessons that will help you prepare yourself for success. It introduces vital nuggets like relationships, perseverance, hard work, focus, and helping others. This book will be a source of encouragement when you are down and discouraged. Read it to refine and tune up your perspective.
This book presents 10 stories from the African forest / context. The stories are rich with local African color and involve animals (typical of the African forest). The feature story, How Mr. Cat Fell Out With Mr. Rat, (after which the book is titled) provides an amusing explanation for why cats and rats do not get along – and cats are always chasing rats. Picking the wrong friend, who has different values and focus, will not result in peace.
There is strength in numbers, and when you join together, like sticks in a bundle, you are much stronger. We can together take on any task that previously appeared to be impossible. No limits, no boundaries. The sky is the limit!
What can you accomplish when you learn to work together? The book illustrates the importance of unity in purpose and addressing problems by working together.