1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
It’s tiny moments—the way sunlight lands on autumn leaves and fills the air with color... when my dog plops down beside me for cuddles... good weekend conversation with my family over coffee... a belly laugh with friends and colleagues. I’ve never been great at big, weighted moments. It’s little moments of beauty, humanity and gratitude that bring me joy.
2. What trait do you most deplore in others?
People who are manipulative, cruel or dishonest.
3. What is your greatest extravagance?
Books and really good chocolate. (True story: I once walked 45 minutes in a solid downpour for a tour of a Swiss chocolate factory. They were closed that day, but the guards at the entry took one look at our sad, soggy faces and returned with little goodies of wondrous sweets – you never saw sorrow turn to delight so fast!)
4. What is your current state of mind?
Hopeful. Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” So, I’m going to keep looking for the light in people and spreading a little light myself.
5. What is your educational background?
Totally unexpected! I have a Culinary Arts Associate in Science degree (yes, I trained as a chef) and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (weirder still, I was an auditor). A professor one day asked me, “Lisa, why the hell aren’t you writing?” ... and the rest is history. Turns out the creativity of cooking and the forensic/science piece of auditing was perfect for being a copywriter—first in B2B and B2C sales/marketing—then in fundraising where I found my heart and forever home.
6. What was your first job?
I was once the world’s worst food server. Let’s just say coordination is not one of my strengths.
7. Which talent would you most like to have?
I wish I could speak, read, and write in multiple languages, so I could always communicate with people in their own language.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’m trying to get better at not needing to control everything all the time. It’s a process.
9. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
That I keep trying to grow and learn—as a mom, partner, writer, friend and human—in doing my part to contribute to humankind. I fail A LOT. But I keep at it. For me, any accomplishment has to start with a quest to grow and do/be better. That, and a sense of humor!
10. What is your current favorite charity?
Here, in New Hampshire, I love our conservation charities: Lakes Region Conservation Trust, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Mount Washington Observatory. We love all things nature and wild places in my family, and support them the best we can.
Award-winning fundraising copywriter and top-selling author Lisa Sargent is on a mission to transform the way nonprofits communicate with their donors. Together with her new book Thankology, SOFII’s free Donor Thank-You Clinics, and as a contributing author to the decision science book Change For Better, Sargent writes, speaks, and trains to help top nonprofits inspire and keep more donors, get far better results, and build a better, brighter world.
Follow Lisa on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/lisasargent/ and subscribe to her free newsletter, The Loyalty Letter, at https://lisasargent.com/.
