President-Elect's Message
I want to very quickly but with utmost sincerity say "Thank You" and give Ronald Buchholz a round of applause for the leadership and the dedication he has given to the members of the American Academy of Certified Public Managers®. Ron has been relentless with each and every timely detail for communicating necessary information to each of the active committees, board members, and membership-at-large. Ron has also been a great teacher and mentor; sharing history and newly improved processes to make the job much easier for the many individuals to follow in his footsteps.
And for each of these wonderful attributes, I thank our President, Ronald Buchholz. Ron is the epitome of a talented and balanced leader. The State of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Managers® are fortunate to have Ron as a team member as is the AACPM.
Saying this to Ron brings me to my message for each of you. HOW IS YOUR FLAME BURNING? Do you have "balance" between your professional and private life? Do your team and staff members have "balance" between their professional and private lives? For many of us, this is a daily struggle. Juggling the personal, professional, spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional sides of our being is like walking a high-wire each and every day.
I'll bet you did not think of yourself as a high-wire acrobat, but to juggle these six critical life elements without "burning out" means you must work in an office where resources and budget are plentiful (somehow I fail to believe this is the case) or that you have and/or are realizing that the important things in life are free and that you are developing and stimulating their presence in your life.
Usually we discover this importance of balance when attention to the many details of our professional life has resulted in neglect of our personal, spiritual, mental and physical needs. When that happens we find it necessary to work ten times harder to regain our balance. Then we discover that for a healthy flame we must really work diligently to focus on achieving a balance that works for us, our family, and our work.
I challenge you to stop and look around you. Ask yourself these questions:
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Is your high-wire taut and crisp? Does it afford you the simple pleasure of enjoying your work, your family and most of all yourself? (Or is it almost taut, but still lurching from side-to-side with you making quick radical back and forth jaunts while still juggling to meet deadlines and commitments?)
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Is the theory of work/life balance—fact or fantasy? How do you make it fact?
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How do you want to be remembered? —by your family? —by your friends? —by your work associates?
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Then ask yourself: What is really important to me?
I am excited to be working with you as your president beginning in January. Please do not hesitate to contact me. I want to serve you and help you. I appreciate all that you do for the CPM program and all that you do for society.
Remember I challenge you to spend some serious time thinking about and reviewing your flame. You are important to our mission. You are very important to the job you perform. You are extremely important to your family. But above all, you are the most important individual to yourself. TAKE CARE OF YOUR FLAME FIRST!!!
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