All proceeds (100%) from the sale of First Things First go to hunger relief organizations, and organizations that rehabilitate wounded veterans. To see a list of these organizations, or to buy hardcopies of First Things First, visit: www.tomiselin.com.Lined with bold messages and practical advice, First Things First (Pelican Lake Press, $25.00, 223 pp.) takes readers on an insightful journey of how to build a high-performance nonprofit. "Too often early stage nonprofits want to do what's convenient, not what's important," says Iselin, who has spent the last 20 years building some of the nation's most innovative nonprofits. "The nonprofit world is filled with passionate people eager to make a difference. Their intentions are noble, but most leaders of early stage nonprofits lack the experience needed to build a quality organization. They tend to take short cuts, penny pinch, and make hasty decisions. The result is costly disruptions, operational migraines, and in some cases, failure."First Things First is a guidebook for leaders of early stage nonprofits (0-6 years old) and small nonprofits (budgets less than $3 million). It focuses on a set of governing principles, operational structures, and practical tactics board members, executives, and managers should adopt and apply early on in their business lifecycle if they are serious about fulfilling their missions and building sustainable nonprofits of superior quality. Each chapter provides a case study example that relates chapter topics to experiences Iselin had during the five years he spent as chief executive at SVAS. Readers see how the SVAS staff and board overcame a host of challenging situations to create a pathway for the organization to develop pioneering programming and effective operations that propelled SVAS to national recognition and acclaim.What makes First Things First different from other "getting started" and "growing your nonprofit" books is that the principles and tactics found in this book are often overlooked and understated, or leaders wait too long to adopt and apply them. Iselin notes, "Seasoned leaders know costly mistakes made early on can have long-term consequences that can derail the dreams and momentum of fulfilling a worthy mission. First Things First shows leaders how to avoid common mistakes and how critical it is to make important decisions early on that might not seem obvious or intuitive."In the book, readers learn how to hire the best staff and nominate the best board members by identifying a set of uncommon attributes. They learn how to efficiently leverage their human capital, how to unravel the mysteries of developing a healthy relationship between board members and a chief executive, how to develop an engaging culture, how to build a brand that captures the attention of national media, how to raise big money from major donors using rarely applied fundraising techniques, how to dodge the traps of "lip service" passion, and much, much more. The book provides dozens of practical tactics and tips that leaders can quickly put into practice. Most importantly, First Things First teaches leaders how to think about the process of building and operating a high-performance nonprofit. They learn how they do what they do is more important than what they do, and just because they can do something doesn't mean they should do it. First Things First is receiving praise for its hard-hitting, yet inspiring analysis. Iselin says what many in the nonprofit industry are too afraid to say. He addresses sensitive issues such as personal accountability and moral obligations, yet his encouraging words and useful advice give readers hope that their nonprofits can become triumphant successes if they are willing to do the right things, right from the start.

A guide to managing your time by learning how to balance your life.

This book draws on a half century of efforts (1960s to the present) to forge a consensus that early education is a public responsibility in the United States. While that consensus has not yet been achieved, recent progress provides a platform for identifying new strategies, based on lessons learned. Transforming the American primary school, starting with threes and fours and ending at age ten (PreK-5) is the focusof First Things First. This book calls attention to the relative neglect of primary or elementary education in the recurring waves of education reform that have targeted middle and high schools. First Things First also points to the chaos generated when PreK is added onto the K-12 grades without attention to its ramifications for the later grades, especially Kindergarten. The book will also briefly address what should happen before PreK (Birth to Three) and after Grade 5, including middle and high school reform, to position the new primary school in an educational enterprise that is committed to life-long learning.

What if you were to think of seeking the Kingdom of God, like going on an adventure, to discover and explore everything about God’s Kingdom Living and you’re place in His Kingdom, would that change how you read your Bible? Life can be very busy with so many things demanding our attention and many are asking “how can I prioritize seeking first the Kingdom of God? Audrey writes from her testimony with straightforward and practical ways to experience the principles of God’s Kingdom in your everyday life. Sharing thoughts with you, that will be challenging but will help you discover more about the Kingdom of God and your place in His Kingdom. We don’t just stumble on the secrets and mysteries of this Kingdom, we must pursue them wholeheartedly!

Kurt Warner is the two-time NFL MVP–winning quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. Brenda Warner is an ex-Marine turned stay-at-home Mom who collects coats for low-income kids and rocks babies to sleep at a center for chronically ill infants. Together they’re the parents of seven children, going into their thirteenth year of marriage. Their formula for success? They put First Things First—faith, family, and giving to others—it’s their family motto, and it drives everything they do. First Things First is an honest, entertaining, and insightful look at life inside the Warner house. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they’re working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Kurt Warner fans will enjoy this behind-the-scenes look into the Warner family daily life. Includes 16 pages of color photos.

Dr. Deborah F. Jenks is a senior consultant in strategic leadership and effective IT integration. She has worked and lived globally since the eighties. IBM selected her for an international assignment. She served as a missionary for seven years ministering in numerous countries. She is ordained under Overflowing Life. Much of her ministry has been in teaching, intercession, research, and mentoring. Some of her favorite topics include intimacy with the Lord, hearing and seeing what God is saying, foresight: seeing the future through God's eyes. She currently resides in Virginia, near the nation's capital.

New York Times Bestselling Author BARBARA DELINSKY FIRST THINGS FIRST From America's beloved storyteller, Barbara Delinsky, comes a classic novel of a woman on the hunt, a man on the run, and one thrillingly romantic hideaway... Chelsea Ross is renowned for her success at locating missing children. But when a wealthy Boston socialite asks her to track down her 40-year-old son, Chelsea is thrown for a loop. The runaway "child" in question, Samuel Prescott London, is a powerful executive who's apparently gone AWOL south of the border. Posing as a tourist, Chelsea manages to find Sam in the outskirts of Cancun—hot, handsome, and happy to be far from the corporate rat race. Chelsea promised Sam's mother she'd bring him back home. But after a few days of playing tourist by his side—and spending nights in his arms—she's not so sure she's ready to give him up...