Many strategic plans fail not because they’re bad, but because employees don’t buy in. Learn how to engage your team, build ownership, and turn your strategy into action.

In this Mustful Minute, filmed along the beautiful North Country Trail in Northern Minnesota, Brandon Mustful shares a powerful reminder for leaders everywhere: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Many leaders feel buried under daily demands, responsibilities, and stress — but the truth is, taking time for yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. By delegating tasks, reorganizing systems, and intentionally stepping away, you can regain your energy, focus, and effectiveness.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to find balance, Mustful Strategic Consulting can help you identify strategies to delegate, prioritize, and reclaim your time.

🌿 Let’s make space for what matters most.
👉 Contact us today to start building a more efficient and fulfilling path forward.

Many organizations mistake technical problems for strategic ones — and as a result, their “strategic plan” becomes an operations plan. Learn how to distinguish between technical and strategic issues, why it matters for your mission, and how to uncover the real challenges shaping your organization’s future.

Leaders don’t need to have all the answers — they need the courage to admit when they don’t. In a world full of uncertainty, the most powerful words a leader can say are “I don’t know.” Discover how humility, adaptability, and shared vision can transform your leadership and strengthen your organization.

Trust is the foundation of every strong organization. In this post, Brandon Mustful shares how increasing transparency at the Beltrami Humane Society helped rebuild relationships and outlines practical ways your organization can do the same.

Many organizations struggle with fundraising because they don’t have a clear, intentional plan in place. In this Mustful Minute, Brandon Mustful from Mustful Strategic Consulting breaks down the key elements of an effective fundraising plan — including:

✅ Crafting a clear and compelling message
✅ Using a diverse mix of fundraising strategies
✅ Building meaningful engagement with donors
✅ Setting realistic, achievable goals

If your nonprofit is operating without a plan, now’s the time to change that. A strong fundraising plan helps you focus your efforts, inspire your supporters, and achieve the impact you’re called to make.

Struggling to attract and keep quality staff? Start by defining and living out your organization’s core values. A strong values-driven culture not only improves team morale but also draws in the right people who believe in your mission.

Nearly half of nonprofits in Northern Minnesota lack a written strategic plan—and that means missed opportunities to grow, collaborate, and make a bigger impact. Strategic planning isn’t just a document; it’s the roadmap to achieving your mission.

In this short video, Brandon Mustful walks through the six essential elements of a strong strategic plan—mission, vision, values, goals, strategies, and performance measures. Using the process of building a home as an analogy, he shows how each piece plays a unique role in supporting the next. Just as a solid house needs a blueprint, a sturdy foundation, and the right materials in the right order, an effective strategic plan relies on clear definitions and well-sequenced steps. This video is designed to make the planning process approachable, practical, and easy to understand for leaders in nonprofits, churches, and community organizations.

This past week, I dedicated the majority of my professional time to Mustful Strategic Consulting for the first time. It’s given me the opportunity to reflect on why I do what I do, and to define the mission, vision, and values that will guide every decision and client engagement moving forward. Grounding a business in clear principles isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for making a lasting impact.

The right performance measures can keep your team motivated, your mission focused, and your funders confident.

In this episode of the Deeply Devoted Podcast, Brandon Mustful joins the conversation with a lighthearted start—his love for The Simpsons. From there, Brandon shares what it means to be a Christian in the marketplace: staying rooted in Christ, bringing faith into daily work, and living with integrity in professional spaces. The conversation wraps up with a look at his role as a facilitator for our church’s new strategic plan through Mustful Strategic Consulting.

Whether you’re a fan of pop culture, navigating faith at work, or curious about shaping the future of our church, this episode has something for you.

Meetings don’t have to be a dreaded time drain. When structured well, they can be one of the most powerful tools for solving problems, making decisions, and moving your organization forward.

Just like every driver keeps a spare tire in the trunk for the unexpected, every business leader should have a succession plan in place. What happens if you step away suddenly—due to retirement, illness, or opportunity? Without a plan, your organization could be left stranded on the side of the road.

In this Mustful Minute, Brandon Mustful shares why an exit strategy isn’t just smart—it’s essential for protecting your people, your mission, and your legacy.

Growth doesn’t happen when all you see is the problem in front of you. It’s like trying to sail across the ocean while staring only at the water right beneath your boat. You’ll never reach your destination unless you know where you’re going and how you’ll get there.

A discipleship pathway is a simple plan to guide people toward maturity in Christ. At the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji, we defined ours with four memorable steps: Gather, Grow, Give, and Go — all infused by the power of the Gospel.

Boards can feel like a barrier, but Executive Directors have the power to transform them into unstoppable forces. In this Mustful Minute, I share how strengthening your relationship with your Board Chair is the key to unlocking your Board’s true potential.

Most nonprofits and churches struggle with the same challenge: they don’t have enough volunteers. But the real problem isn’t the number of volunteers — it’s trying to do too much. Focusing on a few high-impact programs staffed by energized volunteers can be far more effective than spreading yourself thin.

Hi. I’m Brandon Mustful of Mustful Strategic Consulting. I’ve started a new video series called The Mustful Minute to provide practical guidance for nonprofit, church, business, and community leaders so they can enhance their impact.

“The most important part of policies isn’t just having them—it’s knowing them. You should understand why each policy exists and when it applies. I’ve sat in countless board meetings where someone suggests a new idea without considering whether it violates policy. That’s why it’s wise to have your organizational policies on hand at every board and committee meeting.”