“Avraham, got a $250,000 donation last week. It took two years! Thank you for showing me how to connect to the donor’s passions—and to be super focused on gaining a 10X gift.”
That message landed in my inbox last week from a former client. Just two sentences. 30 words. And a quarter-million-dollar reminder that bold thinking leads to big wins.
Here’s the thing: this school leader didn’t stumble onto a magic donor. He simply stopped chasing $1,800 band-aid gifts—and made the decision to think 10X.
Not just work harder. But think and act differently. The kind of shift Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy describe in 10X Is Easier Than 2X.
And you can make that same shift in your mosad Torah.
The 10X Question
Imagine a donor walks in and drops a check large enough to multiply your mosad’s impact by ten. Where would the very first dollar go?
Not a $50K patch for payroll. Think $5 million for scholarships, dorms, or a game-changing kiruv initiative.
That question unlocks four powerful mindset shifts:
- Identity Upgrade
Picture your yeshiva five years from now—respected as a premier makom Torah, with more applicants than beds, and a spacious, knacking beis midrash. Start leading from that version of your mosad today. - Focus on the Vital Few
Which ten donors could realistically fund 70–80% of your vision? Name them. Rank them. Pursue them. - Who-Not-How Thinking
Stop asking “How will I pull this off?” and start asking “Who already can?” - Radical Stop-Doing
Sweep your plate clean of anything that doesn’t build deeper relationships with those key supporters.
Small goals let you stay busy. 10X goals make you focus.
Five 10X Moves You Can Steal Today
- Name Your Signature Project
Big donors don’t give to keep the lights on—they give to leave a legacy.
Block 30 minutes, write a short project concept (250 words max), and give it a price tag bold enough to feel worthy of their dreams. - Launch a 90-Day Obsession Sprint
Momentum builds when you focus. For the next 3 months, block off two sacred hours a week—no phones, no interruptions—just time for your top donors. Prep, meet, follow up. That’s it. You’ll be amazed how far you get. - Build a “Who-Not-How” List
Who are your “Whos”? The alumnus who runs events in his sleep. The board member who’s a spreadsheet ninja. The parent who gets things done. Write down five. Start handing off tasks. Delegation isn’t optional—it’s how you grow. - Decide from the Future, Not the Present
Don’t plan from your current balance sheet. Ask: If we already had the $5 million, would we buy the next building?
If the answer is yes—start moving in that direction now. - Create Fast Feedback Loops
After every major-donor meeting, take 15 minutes (within 24 hours!) to reflect: What excited them? What didn’t land?
Use it to adjust for the next conversation. Fast feedback compounds clarity—and clarity gets you to “yes” faster.
Your 90-Day 10X Challenge
- Write down a goal that makes your stomach flip a little.
- Say out loud: We are a premier makom Torah for ______.
- Identify ten families who could fund 80% of the dream.
- Schedule your two sacred hours—guard them yehareg ve-al yaʿavor.
Because in this world, dreaming small isn’t humility. It’s drift.
Hatzlacha Raba!
Avraham
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