Once upon a time, there were two networking groups who each decided to have a potluck dinner on a Saturday Night.
The first group all made plans on what to bring, and they made sure all arrangements were made so the party would be a successful and enjoyable occasion. When they all arrived, there was plenty of food and drink for everyone because each member brought not only enough, but a little extra.
At the end of the night, everyone went home with a full stomach, and a warm fuzzy feeling that carried over the weekend and into the following business week. More referrals than usual were passed that week. The old saying “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” was certainly in play.
Then there was a second group, who planned to have the same type of party on the same Saturday Night. While they all looked forward to it, life and business got in the way of their commitment to bring their respective dishes. Many of them thought, no big deal, there will be enough…someone else will cover it.
When they all arrived, there was no food and no drink. Everyone had fallen victim to the same line of thinking. After some grumbling and chatter, they all went home, empty stomach, unsatisfied, and feeling disappointed. This carried over the weekend like a cloud, the following week was not very productive and some even quit the group. The old saying “the whole is greater than the sum of the parts” was certainly in play here as well, only in reverse.
The moral of this story: Your chapter needs you, for Leadership and Support positions. If you have been asked to serve, consider it an honor that we thought highly enough of you to do so. If you have been considering it, now is the time to step up and commit. If you are interested in helping, serving, hosting, talk to anyone on the Leadership Committee and ask them to suggest a position for you. Ask yourselves, which group in this story do I want to belong to? Those who know that “Givers Gain” or those who want to “Let Someone Else Do It!”
