🎭 Behind the Clipboard: A New Kind of Conversation
Welcome to “Behind the Clipboard,” a satirical talk show where the guests are the very real challenges nonprofit founders face—and the conversations are honest, hilarious, and just a little too relatable.
Each “episode” features a fictional character—like Burnout, Mission Drift, or Strategy—getting interviewed by your host (that’s me!) in a mock talk-show setting. But beneath the humor? A real issue we need to talk about.
This series blends humor and insight to help you name what’s really going on in your nonprofit—and what to do about it—without the guilt, fluff, or burnout. So, here we go!
🎙️ Episode 1: Burnout Tells All
Cue theme music and coffee-fueled applause.
Welcome to Behind the Clipboard—the talk show where the guests are real issues in your nonprofit and the drama is all too familiar. I’m your host, Alesha Mathis, and today we’re sitting down with someone I hoped I’d never see again.
Please welcome… Burnout.
🛋️ The Interview
Host (me):
“Burnout, you’ve been showing up in nonprofits everywhere. You’ve ghosted staff meetings, hijacked inboxes, and even canceled grant reports. What’s going on?”
Burnout (hoodie, iced coffee, thousand-yard stare):
“Honestly? I didn’t even want to be here. I was just Passion at first. You remember her, right? Bright-eyed, full of ideas, answering emails at midnight.”
Host:
“So… what changed?”
Burnout:
“They stopped taking breaks. Skipped lunch. Said, ‘I’ll rest after this gala.’
Then it was, ‘after this campaign.’
Then it was, ‘after I build an entire org from scratch with $0 and vibes.’”
shrugs
“I just… stuck around.”
🎯 What This Looks Like in Real Life
You might not recognize Burnout at first. He doesn’t always show up with sirens blaring.
Sometimes it’s:
-
You re-reading the same email five times but still not replying
-
Feeling guilty for not “doing enough” on your one day off
-
Snapping at your team (or your cat) for asking basic questions
-
Daydreaming about quitting… just to nap
And if you’re leading a nonprofit, it’s even trickier. You don’t want to let anyone down. You tell yourself the mission is worth the sacrifice.
But here’s the truth: You can’t lead a mission if you’re emotionally MIA.
🛠️ What To Do About It
Let’s not wait until Burnout moves in permanently. Here’s what you can do right now:
1. Create Buffer Time
Don’t schedule yourself to 100%. Leave breathing room. (No one does their best work back-to-back-to-back.)
2. Name Your Limits
Say it out loud: “I can’t take on another event this month.” That sentence will not end your career. It will protect it.
3. Delegate Like You Mean It
Ask yourself: Am I doing this because it must be me, or because it’s faster than training someone? (You know which answer’s costing you long term.)
4. Rest Without Earning It
You don’t need to reach inbox zero or “finish the list” to rest. Rest is part of the job.
💬 Final Thoughts from the Couch
Burnout (adjusting hoodie):
“I’m not here because I’m powerful. I’m here because people keep pretending they don’t need help.”
Host (me):
“Let’s stop pretending.”
You deserve to do this work from a place of energy, not exhaustion.
And if Burnout’s already sitting on your couch? You’re not a failure. You’re just overdue for a reset.
