| THE SMALL
PRICE/HUGE VALUE OF COOPERATION
 A
few years ago the Printing Industries of
Michigan printed the following pearl of wisdom:
“You don’t buy a newspaper, you buy news. You
don’t buy life insurance, you buy security. You
don’t buy glasses, you buy vision. You don’t buy
membership in an association, you buy the
cooperation of many people in the industry with
whom you can partner to accomplish things you
can’t do alone.”
Some years ago I worked for one of the first
franchisors in the quick printing industry
helping new franchisees get their businesses off
the ground successfully. Obviously one of the
reasons they bought a franchise was to buy the
cooperation of many people in the industry with
whom they could partner to accomplish things
they couldn’t do alone.
Every once in awhile, we’d have a franchise
owner who was convinced they could do better by
themselves, for whatever reason they didn’t see
the value in associating with a group. I’m
reminded of that when I hear about this member
or that chapter who wants to go it alone. The
philosopher said no man is an island, and he was
right. We are social animals who require the
stimulus, the creativity and the cooperation of
others to accomplish things. In my opinion these
are human needs we can only find in groups.
We are embracing a new model in our Association
that sees the entire Association as being
dedicated to Educate, Promote, Inform and
Connect the individual member with another
individual member. We want to create a web of
global connection.
To do that, we can’t be loners. We need to be
team players, fierce in our EPIC dedication to
cooperate. In keeping with that mode of
thinking, I am determined to make sure no one
thinks I am an island – I need a team working
with me, (not under me – with me) to accomplish
our vision of EPIC connection – I am very
fortunate to work with Eric Olsen, Arthur Mole,
Kevin Keane and the Vice Presidents and the
Board of Directors. But I am also aware that I
can leverage the ‘corporate memory’ found in the
experiences of all the persons who have gone
before me as Chairman of this association. I
want those leaders on my team too.
One of those past chairmen, Larry Nelson, coined
the expression that our members need to become
consumers of their association. I think he meant
that rather than being passive, we need active
members. Members who want to cooperate to
accomplish things they can’t do alone. |
Over the past three years it has been my
privilege to see the avalanche of individual
requests that flow to our Corporate Headquarters
in Minneapolis every day. I am so impressed by
the myriad ways in which our HQ helps individual
members accomplish things they couldn’t do
alone. Our people know so many people, tools,
resources and ideas to help our members
accomplish things. It’s called Connection. And
that value is worth far, far more in annual dues
than our members pay.
Do you need a used Indigo digital press? Want to
talk to someone about a refurbished DI press?
Interested in whether you should get into wide
format printing? Need to know how to handle
maternity leave for your number one sales
person? Become part of the team, part of the
connection. We will all be stronger, and we all
know there is strength in numbers.
In closing, I want to issue a challenge.
Every one of us needs to pay it forward. We need
to stop waiting for the other person and do
something proactive to build the connection.
Every one of us, every ONE needs to be
responsible for a new member. Let me tell you a
true story – at the Vancouver Convention, Jeff
Jones asked Joe Furman to become a member – Joe
agreed, but it took almost 7 months to get it
done. We have to do better. Every ONE of us has
to take personal responsibility for the
connection.
So here’s what will happen – every time I speak
to a member, call them up, meet them, or e-mail
them, I’m going to ask 2 questions:
Have you mentored a new member yet?
What is their name? (because I want to make sure
they are part of the connection.)
Please note – I need your help. I can’t
accomplish a simple goal like membership growth
by myself. I need the cooperation of many people
in the industry to accomplish things I couldn’t
do alone. Will you help me build the connection?
IAPHC Chairman,
Bill Leahy
Pacific Printing, Los Angeles CA
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