It’s a puzzle. They say that man is a herd animal, but that also great entrepreneurs should be independent beasts. So which is it?
I believe that people are essentially good. There are exceptions (of course), but for the most part, most of us want to do the right thing and want to be thought of as decent. Associations tend to prove this point for me. Intelligent people, business owners, managers, presidents, gathering for self-interested reasons (to learn things, meet people, make deals etc), but more often than not willing to talk to their fellow members and share their ideas, thoughts and experiences.
Kidding myself? Maybe.
But LPC has worked with a number of associations in the labeling and packaging industry and their existence and growth, their success, is largely down to the voluntary efforts of their members, not the guidance or management of any paid employees (however hard-working and gifted they may be).
The most recent example I’d point to is TLMI (Tag & Label Manufacturers Institute). A fiercely competitive group of folks who still recognize the fact that they share more similarities than they have differences. We were involved with interviewing some of their members at an Annual Meeting and having gone through all the video footage what I came away with was how open and helpful they are prepared to beĀ and how strongly they felt that others were towards them. I emphasize that last bit because it speaks to the point; we believe in ourselves, but we’re not always so sure about others.
TLMI’s a great group, but more than any other single thing, they’re great because they’re open and generous with each other. Which benefits each of them individually. And that’s why I believe in associations. If you know of a good one, stick with it, and do your part. Because -it transpires- the people who put the most into it, who volunteer and put themselves out there the most, are also the ones who get the most, personally and professionally, in return. Seems, in this case anyway, that you do get what you give…
Here are a few of the TLMI folks I was talking about. Some are long-standing members, some brand new, all positive and enthusiastic. Traits that I’ll bet they bring back to their everyday business as well.
All the best,