Greetings fellow NTSA members, and Happy New Year! I wanted to send this note to welcome everyone to 2024 and get started on our new initiatives for this calendar year.
I am Toni Whaley, your NTSA President for 2024. It is my privilege and pleasure to serve and continue to move the needle forward so that we all retain our ability to enjoy our work in this incredible industry! To help keep us in line with our mission, I would like us all to be committed to:
Listen: Hearing and listening are two different things. We are able to understand and engage in our community much more effectively if we open our ears and listen to each other.
Listen to the noise around—and in—the industry so we are informed. Listen to our clients so we hear them completely on the points that matter most to them. Engage and communicate back to colleagues and clients what you have learned and show them that they have been heard!
Learn: Every day is another opportunity to learn something new. This is true for me even in the areas in which I feel well-versed and can teach a seminar on the topic.
Situations, circumstances and new data all need to be taken into consideration to fully engage and add something constructive to the conversation. Ask questions. Don’t be tempted to jump to conclusions too soon. Give the topic ample attention to make sure everyone fully understands the issues and consequences of any appropriate direction that is under consideration. Once decided upon—with buy-in from everyone involved—confidently implement.
Lead: If you have or have not heard this before, let me share about the way ducks and geese fly/migrate each year. Wind dynamics are very difficult to manage for each bird and so, if you notice, you will see them flying in a V formation. That is so the lead bird takes on the draft and allows the rest of the birds to fly more comfortably – giving them the ability to fly over long stretches. When the lead bird has given enough, they go to the back of the formation and another duck takes over for the flock. You’ll also notice that you hear the ducks quacking to encourage their leader and let them know, “we are still with you!”
Leading is a great responsibility. But we are used to that when we lead our clients and other teams on to success. We intend to lead with everyone following on to the same destination.
I look forward to seeing you on this journey. Here are two simple ways you can easily jump on board!
Summit 2024. It’s right around the corner! The beautiful city of San Diego is ready to host us Feb. 25-27, 2024. If you don’t have your hotel reservation and travel arrangement booked, please do so right away! This is our 35th anniversary celebration, and we want as many people in attendance as possible.
We have planned up-to-date learning opportunities and innovative business building strategies. Networking with industry leaders is always a highlight, and this year we are holding our very first Women of NTSA event. We won’t be complete without you—so please come join us. Let the celebration begin!
Volunteer. NTSA is nothing without a volunteer army. We have been truly blessed with people all across this beautiful land to step up and give their time and attention to the mission that we continue each year.
We cannot complete our mission alone. If you have two, five, or even 10 hours a month to journey alongside industry peers, please consider serving on one of our standing committees and help us move our industry forward into the future!
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