Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

Not with me on board!
At the airport today.

Going towards my gate.
Walking next to moving sidewalk.
(Wanted to burn extra calories.)

Two pilots on the moving walkway.

Talking up a storm.
Ignoring me just feet away.
Hard not to listen in.

The pilots were junior guys.

Complaining about the senior pilots they fly with.
Giving way too many details.
In a very public place.

The [...]

Filed under: Recruiting New Members, Savvy Leadership | 2 Comments »

Sort of.
Yesterday I fly to Vegas.

I was upgraded to first class.
(Always a lucky day in my book.)
And there was more.

It happened near the end of the flight.

The flight attendants were quite excited.
The CEO of the Golden Gate Casino was on the plane.
He had a gift for all the folks flying - a $25 chip [...]

Filed under: Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

Ouch.
This weekend I attended a party.

Met three young professionals.
Friends in the same profession.
Asked what I did.

Interested when they heard I work with associations.

And teach leaders how to create a surplus of volunteers.
They wanted to know if it possible.
And asked about trends in volunteerism.

They shared insights about their national association.

One had quit due to no [...]

Filed under: Keeping members, Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

   Ugh.
I want to start taking karate.

My gym offers it for free.
Had a fab time with the instructor a week ago.
I learned a ton about self defense.

And yet my stomach spins as time grows close.

My head rumbles with excuses.
Why staying home makes more sense.
What if the weather changes?

Writing about my fear is making it worse.

I need [...]

Filed under: Cynthia's Fitness Adventure, Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

Leave me alone - please.

Flying to Florida I was upgraded.

Got to my seat.
On the aisle.
Started settling in.

Then SHE arrived.

Insisted i didn’t need to get up.
She could get by me.
Before I could stand up she crawled over - with all her stuff.

Things went downhill from there.

Who left a bottle of water at her chair?
Can she [...]

Filed under: Rants, Recruiting New Members | No Comments »

   Huh?
Last week I joined a new association.

Worked through some expectation issues.
About how quickly my welcome should arrive.
They did okay.

Now what?

I got my password to their site.
Encouragement to explore.
And it wasn’t enough - because there was too much.

Too much = work for me!

I wanted a guide.
Easy steps to explore my new membership.
Not to waste time [...]

Filed under: Keeping members, Recruiting New Members | 2 Comments »

   Time is ticking.
I just joined a professional association.

It’s new to me.
But been around for years.
It’s an anchor in the industry.

I filled out the application online.

Told them how to contact me.
Gave them my credit card number.
And nothing!

It’s been 15 minutes.

Where’s my email greeting?
Welcoming me to the association.
Giving me tips to jump in.

If not a welcome, at [...]

Filed under: Rants, Recruiting New Members | 4 Comments »

   Or just my money?
Got an invitation this morning.

Via evite.
To a jewelry party.
At a woman’s home.

I don’t think I know her.

She didn’t tell me anything personal.
Except jewelry is on sale.
Her name is not familiar.

I clicked through to the evite invitation - just in case.

She had invited more than 700 people.
To her home!
I know it’s not big enough to [...]

Filed under: Rants, Recruiting New Members | No Comments »