Association Leadership - May/June 2008 - (Page 23)

A “seasoned” perspective: Why do we do it? Why have so many of us given our entire adult lives to working for non-proÞts? It certainly is not the high pay, the opportunity for advancement, the luxury ofÞce suites, the vacation homes, the short work weeks or the high-proÞle recognition. Michael Clayton Albert Schweitzer President/CEO said, ÒThe only ones of Better Business Bureau – you who will be truly Southeast Texas happy are those who have found and learned how to serve.Ó Certainly he was stating the truth Ð the meaning of life lies in giving. The quality of your life is in direct proportion to your willingness to give of yourself. In the classic movie, ÒItÕs a Wonderful Life,Ó George Bailey discovers this truth. Though he had many opportunities to pursue ambitions elsewhere, George remained in his community and dedicated himself to providing affordable housing to his savings & loan members. When his guardian angel showed what the town would be like if he had never been born, Bailey realized how much of a difference his giving had made. If we are not careful, that giving will come at a great price. If we are not ÒbalancedÓ we will Òburn out,Ó being ineffective at helping anyone Ð our association members, our families or even ourselves. Our passion, dedication and commitment to our mission propels many ÒseasonedÓ executives to often give to the point of sacriÞce Ð their health, their quality of life, their family, their friends, their joy and even their sanity! But does it really have to be that way? Balance in life and work is the answer. We must determine our priorities Ð work, family, health, career, you name it Ð placing them in proper perspective, assigning balanced time to each and holding ourselves accountable to our priorities and time allocations. ItÕs really all about a new way of thinking and doing. ItÕs about developing new habits that will prevent us from burnout and keep us in balance. It is working smart, delegating, avoiding time-wasters and applying a productivity plan each day. ItÕs about being Òat workÓ when you are at work and Òbeing homeÓ when you are at home. Why? So you donÕt have to work Saturday and Sunday. You wonÕt check your e-mail in the evening. And you can even take an occasional extended weekend. Rose Marie Bravo of Burberry Limited once said, ÒTry to achieve a balance early in your career and your personal life.Ó Well, for those of us who are ÒseasonedÓ non-proÞt executives, our early intentions may have been altered in lifeÕs journey, but it is not too late to get back in balance. Remember George Bailey? He also discovered another secret Ð that whatever you give comes back to you. When you extend yourself to nurture the growth of another, you nurture your own growth. Although his material possessions were modest, George Bailey was considered the ÒrichestÓ and most beloved man in Bedford Falls. Proper balance in our life and work, no matter how long we have been serving others, will give to us the same ◆ results and rewards! Emily Speight Follow-up response: Michael makes a very good point about burnout. If we push ourselves too far by trying to be all things to everyone, we end up helping no one. Those of us who feel stressed out all the time or overwhelmed by job and personal responsibilities should take a step back and analyze our situation. We should allocate appropriate time to each priority and strive to attain a good balance between professional and personal lives. Not only will we be helping ourselves, but we will help those around us as well. Michael Clayton Follow-up response: Lessons are often learned too late. Many ÒseasonedÓ association executives have learned too many years into our career what some young professionals have already learned. Discovering a mentor to give assistance in decision making is a sign of wisdom. Using technology to separate ourselves from the ofÞce is a present-day luxury that Òmore experiencedÓ executives were not privileged to for many years. And engaging in regular physical exercise is a mandate to stay healthy and balanced. These are lessons that we ÒolderÓ executives may have waited years to implement. Emily is to be commended for her insight and determination toward setting proper priorities early in her career. They are lessons and habits she will beneÞt from for years to come. May/June 2008 | Association LEADERSHIP 23

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Association Leadership - May/June 2008

Association Leadership - May/June 2008 Contents President’s Column Homepage 60-Second Solutions Cover Feature: Associations As a Profession Positivity: Key to Retaining Young Talent Perspectives Association Case Study TSAE Annual Conference TSAE's Newest CAEs New Members Community Spotlight Grand Membership Campaign Committee Thank-yous Austin Dallas/Fort Worth Index to Advertisers Advertiser.com The Lighter Side of Associations- New Feature

Association Leadership - May/June 2008

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