You're Fired!

I got fired last week. 

"Term limit"--is sounds better.  Up until last Tuesday, I was President of the Incentive Marnufacturers and Representatives Alliance (we need fewer words), or IMRA.  The Reign of Terror that began with a thunderclap the year before in Nashville ended with a whimper, as I was given my piece of glass and exited Stage Left.

And as I gazed at that chunk of glass, with my name there documenting it all, I began to think some about what I accomplished in the year I served as IMRA's Big Kahuna.  And at that instant you truly have a moment of clarity about "volunteer leadership" and what an exercise in Herding Cats it is. 

Ostemsibly, I led the Alliance.  But let's be material about this--I led NOTHING.  I wrangled, I cajoled, I begged, and in some cases I bullied our membership to engage in its future.  I cared, so you don't have to.  But I wasn't willing to accept that--I demanded participation.  And to some extent I got some.  I'll put that on my List of Accomplishments.

I also got a chance to hear from members on subjects they cared about.  Perhaps I planted a couple of seeds that will sprout into some passion, and that person will join a task force or even run for the Board.  That's an Accomplishment.

The Board was willing to humor me with discussions about Important Subjects.   Now we won't act on all of them, and may act less forcefully on others, but we discussed them, and did so in an adult way that allowed eveyone to weigh in.  Given the diversity in the Alliance, that was indeed an Accomplishment.

OK, so it wasn't so bad.  I got some stuff done.  I pushed the pile forward, and left a new pile for my successor to push (or not, depending on her interest in the subject).  Time will tell.  But even if she throws away my entire Agenda, that does not lessen the Accomplishment.  At least I don't think so.

Now I wander off into Ex-President Land.  Another year on IMRA's Board as the Immediate Past President, with no vote but the chance to weigh in on what's going on.  And I have all this time!  God forbid, maybe I'll spend it on my JOB, attempting to reverse the Curse of the IMRA Presidency that appears to have infected us. 

Was it worth it?  Yeah.  I saw what everyone else sees in Volunteer Leadership--a chance to channel passion for the business into Good.  And even if it wasn't perfect, or even great, it was good.  I'm glad I did it.  And I recommend it highly for anybody seeking to know more about the sandbox they play in. 

Crap--does this mean I should run for ANOTHER Board? 


Pete