Is There Anywhere Else You’d Rather Be?

I’ll be honest: as a Minnesota Vikings fan, I brace myself for heartbreak every year.

We’ve never won a Super Bowl.

We’re notorious for flopping in big games.

And prime-time television? Historically, we suck at it.

So when 22-year-old rookie J.J. McCarthy trotted out for his first NFL start this week on Monday Night Football, I was ready for disaster.

Millions of people were watching.

He was fresh off a year-long knee injury.

He was carrying the hopes of a fanbase that’s seen this movie before. And God is this movie depressing.

And for the first three quarters, I watched through my fingers like every horror movie I’ve ever seen.

McCarthy got his first real taste of NFL adversity.

Things didn’t start perfect.

I, alongside nearly every Vikings fan muttered “here we go again” in unison

Quite the opposite actually.

The pressure was overwhelming.

But what happened instead of the classic meltdown we were all expecting…it was different.

In the middle of the chaos, and after a VERY Vikings-esque prime-time pick-six interception…he gathered his teammates in the huddle and asked the question that shifted everything:

“Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?”

That’s not bravado.

That’s not naïve optimism.

That’s a centering reminder.

Yes, it’s this work is hard.

Yes, it feels like the world is spinning out of control.

But this moment - the challenge, the stage, the opportunity - is exactly where you’re supposed to be.

And if you work in nonprofits, this is basically your life.

The gala where the seats are half-empty.

The big donor who says no.

The board meeting that turns into a circus.

These are our “Monday Night Football” moments. The spotlight’s on, the stakes feel high, and chaos threatens to swallow us whole.

That’s exactly when this phrase matters most: Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

Let’s walk through three common nonprofit storms, and how this mindset shift can pull you back to center when it feels like everything’s falling apart.

1. The Event That Doesn’t Go as Planned

You spent months planning the big fundraiser.

You lined up sponsors, your volunteers folded napkins into fancy shapes, and the local weatherman swore it wouldn’t rain on your outdoor dinner.

But halfway through, attendance looks thinner than you hoped, the auction paddles are slow to rise, and your carefully budgeted projections feel more like wishful thinking.

It’s a gut punch.

All that time, energy, and effort: gone. Or at least that’s how it feels in the moment.

This is exactly when to pause and ask: Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

Sure, you could be at home in sweatpants, bingeing Netflix, but is that why you do this work?

No.

You’re here because you care enough to give people a chance to invest in something bigger than themselves. You’re here because even if the totals fall short, the mission doesn’t.

Instead of letting disappointment steal the spotlight, you can reframe.

Sure, maybe fewer guests showed up, but the ones who did came for a reason.

Sure maybe the live auction underperformed, but the room left buzzing with stories about your impact.

Sure, maybe the dollars don’t add up tonight, but the relationships built will pay off later.

“Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?” reminds you that being in the arena, even when the seats aren’t full, is still better than standing on the sidelines.

2. The Donor Ask That Flops

You prepared for weeks.

You researched the donor’s interests, mapped out a gift range, even practiced your pitch in front of the bathroom mirror (don’t lie—we’ve all done it).

You sit down, share your vision with passion, make the ask… and the donor says no.

Not just no, maybe a polite “not right now” or a blunt “we’re giving elsewhere.” Either way, you walk out of the meeting feeling like you fumbled and threw the game away.

Here’s the truth: failure is baked into fundraising. Not every ask lands. Not every prospect becomes a donor.

That’s not a reflection of your worth, your mission, or your competence. It’s just part of the work.

And this is where McCarthy’s phrase helps. Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

Would you rather be in a job where rejection doesn’t happen? Maybe.

But would you trade the chance to sit across from someone and invite them into changing lives for the better? Probably not.

This moment, as crushing as it feels, is proof you’re in the arena. It’s evidence that you’re brave enough to ask, bold enough to believe, and humble enough to risk hearing no.

This is fundraising sacred ground.

And here’s the kicker: many times, “no” today just means “not yet.”

The fact that you asked plants a seed. It shows you believe in your mission enough to risk rejection. And it opens the door to return when the timing is right.

So ask yourself—and maybe even your team when you regroup after a tough call, is there anywhere else we’d rather be than right here, doing this work?

3. The Board Meeting That Descends Into Chaos

You thought the board agenda was straightforward.

Budget updates, a program highlight, maybe a quick vote on next quarter’s priorities.

But within fifteen minutes, someone derails the discussion, another member talks over everyone, and before you know it, the room feels like a reality TV reunion episode.

It’s frustrating, exhausting, and sometimes even demoralizing. This isn’t what you signed up for when you imagined leadership.

But again, is there anywhere else you’d rather be?

Would you prefer a disengaged board that rubber-stamps everything with no discussion?

Hell no.

Would you rather not have passionate voices around the table at all?

Probably not.

Conflict, while messy, means people care. It means there’s energy and investment in the mission, even if it’s misdirected.

Asking this question doesn’t excuse dysfunction, but it reframes the moment. Instead of stewing in frustration, you remind yourself that you’re in the room where decisions get made, where voices matter, and where your leadership can help guide people back to mission.

Chaos isn’t pleasant, but it’s proof you’re doing something real. And the work of turning that passion into progress, that’s the privilege of leadership.

Here’s the bigger picture: adversity is inevitable in nonprofit life. Events flop, donors decline, boards bicker.

These aren’t signs that you’re failing; they’re signs that you’re in it. You’re in the work that matters.

“Is there anywhere else you’d rather be?” isn’t just a motivational catchphrase, it’s a compass. It points you back to why you chose this path in the first place. It grounds you in gratitude that you get to do this work, even when it’s hard.

The next time things don’t go your way, take a breath.

Then ask the question.

And remember: the mission doesn’t hinge on one night, one gift, or one meeting. It’s built over time, through resilience, persistence, and the belief that even in chaos, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Because if you really think about it, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.

You’ve got this!

-Patrick