We recently held the 3rd Annual Leadership Development Bootcamp after a hiatus last year. This was an In-Person event and it was great to see the members that came. The format was a panel discussion of former and current chapter leaders who have all been very long-time members of THCC. I was looking forward to the event, but I must say that during and afterwards I had the feeling of “I really needed this today”.

Being THCC President is a big job—it really is like having a 2nd full time job, or at least it can be. I am a Type A overachiever and have been my whole life. It is something that I am working on; I used to wear this badge with pride and somewhat look down on “lesser achievers”. I am learning that rest, downtime, and spending time on the things that really matter are what are really important, but this is a fairly recent discovery for me and it’s not easy to change. When I accepted the role of President Elect, I had a lot of reservations. I am an introvert, and even though I am in sales and can turn it on for this role, it is not my natural state. I do not like to be the center of attention and do not like public speaking, both of these things make me uncomfortable. And, my “day job” is really busy, short staffed, and we formed a new entity this year and had to recreate literally everything. So, I had reservations, but when you are asked by the current President and Past President, you step up. I accepted the challenge and want to do my best for the chapter. That being said, once you are in it, and trying to manage all the things and keep up with the day job, it’s a lot.

Yesterday, listening to the panel, I felt an ah-ha moment. Here are four amazing people, who all at some point in their careers stepped up to the same challenge. And, all four of them called it a pivotable point in their careers. They talked about how it helped them open up to new experiences and people. How it helped them manage personalities, form deeper relationships with people, and gave them a new perspective on our industry and the different roles in it. Everyone on the panel is a mentor, partly due to their longevity in the industry and just knowing things, but more so because they didn’t just do their day job. They gave more, whatever their own reservations were, and some of theirs were the same as mine, they recognized that being the chapter President is a privilege and if you lean into it, you will gain so much more. I am honored to be in this club and promise to look at it with gratitude. Gratitude that I get this opportunity to learn, to grow, and to serve this wonderful chapter. I have already made so many new friends and deepened relationships. I thank the panel for their honest words and giving me the perspective I need to relish this role while I am in it. Leadership Bootcamp—yes it sure was!!

Sophie Curtis
2021-2022 President, MPI Texas Hill Country Chapter