The reason I'm passing on this wonderful task of writing a blog for the Mentoring Task Force is due to time constraints. As I've progressed in my membership with Insurance Professionals I've had to leave behind old, and develop, new responsibilities. This is what Insurance Professionals is about. You find a role that will teach you, once you've held that position for awhile you move on so others can also learn from that role.
Of course, volunteering your time is the only way that Insurance Professionals has to teach you business and leadership skills. Volunteering is very important to all levels of our organization. My goodness, our entire Executive Committee is all volunteers! I urge all of you to commit to volunteering your time during this current term. This is where you will get the greatest value from your membership. The more you give to this association the more the association can give to you.
Taking on new roles and responsibilities is something I enjoy doing. It's just simply in my nature to want to volunteer and help - everyone! I have to admit, though, one of the pitfalls of volunteering can be over-volunteering. I'm afraid I have an issue with that one. Often enough I find I've volunteered my way out of any personal time. Which is kinda where I am at the moment.
My Mentor, Margie, is helping me step back from the edge on this particular cliff. She is showing me that I need to prioritize where and what I volunteer my time for. There are so many good reasons to give my time but I just can't spread myself thin enough to complete it all. It's better to be able to focus your talents on fewer projects than to constantly be behind schedule or struggling to complete your responsibilities. You are better for it, too. Concentrating on fewer responsibilities gives you a chance to really learn from the experience. And that is why all of us are in Insurance Professionals, to learn and develop our leadership and professional skills.
Get out there and flex those business muscles! Volunteer! Your organization needs you, and you need this organization. Just watch out that pitfall.
So now I am stepping away from the keyboard so that another may learn from this volunteer opportunity. And so I can avoid the pitfall myself.
As a reminder your new Mentoring Task Force Chairperson is Pam Haakenson. Her contact information is below.
Pam Haakenson, CPIW
507-283-2381
pamh@buffaloridgeins.com
Thank you, Pam, for volunteering your time and talents.
