Brian Birch asks an interesting question on ASAE & The Center’s Acronym Blog: Who are we really, as association professionals? If you work for a nonprofit association as I do, I suggest that you read his post and the replies.
Here’s how I responded to “Who are we really, as association professionals?”
I could answer this question with I’m a humanitarian, a heretic, a servant-leader, a contrarian, an advocate, a peace-maker, a fool, a strategic big-picture futurist with a penchant for implementation, a conduit, a life-long learner or a number of other labels.
We might be shaped by our pasts but our futures are always open. People ask repeatedly, “Where’d you come from? What have you done? Who are you?” The larger question is always, “What are you becoming?”
What are you becoming? Who are you as an association professional?
The truthful answer to this question—and to all moments of becoming—is, “We have no idea.” We can move in any number of directions. We will have false starts and dead ends; we will find some paths congenial; we will dodge some challenges and embrace others. But movement will always be forward.
Today, tomorrow and many years from now, we can be blessed by the opportunity to become, the chance to try something new, the occasion to develop into something different, the opening for a do-over.
The world looks backward—mainly to stifle life, if you ask me—but I like to focus on bearing forward with a restless spirit and a burning desire to help.
