And, the answer is....

In my previous blog, I announced that Grow!, our international conference, was going to Las Vegas.  With all the contractual bits and pieces behind us now, I can announce that we will be at the Mirage in Las Vegas on October 20 - 22, 2013.

While the past Grow! was successful, a number of our loyal members suggested that Orlando (last year's location) wasn't convenient enough, especially for the West Coast -- a more central location was preferred.  Consequently, the team looked for a venue more accessible for all and due to the 'all-in' cost, including looking at non-stop flights (see previous blog), Las Vegas was selected.  The Mirage has come forward with the most attractive proposal.  (See http://www.mirage.com).

The registration link will be live by week's end and the savings, for registering now, will be around $300.

Our team is busy signing up nationally known speakers so you can expect to see more information shortly -- but, please, accept that this conference, once again, promises to be better than the previous one -- conference for management consultants to come and be part of a great profession.

 Stay tuned,

My best,
David

As the year draws to a close, we spend time with our family and reconnect to friends as we celebrate the holidays. It’s also the time of the year that we take a moment to send a card or reconnect with the people in our professional lives – that community of peers, clients and prospects.

Our community of talented, smart and accomplished professionals makes our organization a vital place to make connections. In this era of technology, we’re connecting members virtually with our newest initiative: C2M Live!^TM

C2M Live! is a new, monthly webinar series – FREE for members – that connects you with top-notch professionals for learning, networking and advancing your practice.

How C2M Live! works

Every month we host a live one-hour webinar on topics of interest to you - a live session at two different times during the month.

• Survey. At the beginning of every month, we’ll have a short survey on the topic for that month’s sessions to start the conversation

• Live session. Each session features a seasoned expert discussing current issues that you’ll find practical, useful and thoughtful.

• Podcast. If you miss a session, just download the podcast!

• Continue the conversation. Then continue in the conversation after the session on our IMC USA LinkedIn group, where you’ll get to chat with fellow participants and the presenter.

• Follow-up. Don’t forget to take the follow-up survey that will arrive in your e-mail shortly after the session – we value your feedback.

This month, we’ve been talking about risks in several areas of our professional lives.

• Managing expectations

• Contractual agreements

• Disagreements & Lawsuits

• Intellectual Property

• Confidentiality, including "work for hire;”

• "Subcontractor” issues

Listen as Charles Wilson, Charles@risksmartsolutions.com, our presenter, talks about how to avoid scope creep during the December 12^th session. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx0KGiw7GIw

If you missed the first session, you may register for our second session on Tuesday, December 18th at 1 pm EST / 10 am PST, here: http://www.imcusa.org/events/event_details.asp?id=281366

I am thankful for Loraine Huchler's lead role in not only starting this initiative but also in her unwavering support of providing additional value to you, our members.  For more information, contact the facilitator, Loraine Huchler, P.E., CMC®, VP, Membership, at huchler@imcusa.org or 609-896-4457.

My best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,

Stay tuned,

 David

This blog continues my discussion of our six initiatives launched as a result of our strategic planning event this past July.

Traditionally, fall is the time when we turn our attention to the recruitment of new members and annual renewal for members of our community. In a previous blog, I talked about why you should join and described our new member initiatives. Today I’d like to talk to our members – about our second initiative, "Member Retention and Improve and Communicate Increased Value.”  

We are a membership organization; the vitality and richness of our communities is due to the commitment and talent of our members. We have a culture that supports collaboration, learning and a strong sense of "giving back”- serving as mentors and informal advisors to each other.

Many of our members, and especially our CMC’s and our FIMC’s, serve as ambassadors, advocating for the professionalism of management consulting and serving as role models for their peers and clients. Our members also give their time and talent to serve you, our members, in chapter and national committees and leadership roles.

To all of our members, I thank you – because of you, we not only exist, we thrive.   This is the time of year when our members ask themselves, "Why should I renew?”   Before I answer ... let our members tell you.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgvIbow3r6c&feature=youtu.be

What’s your reason? I invite you to get involved with a local chapter, participate in a virtual community, attend one of our Academy programs, volunteer to serve on a committee – and discover your reason for being a member of THE community of professional consultants that lives our values of excellence and leads the advancement of ethics for the management consulting profession.

Second -- An Announcement -- At the Leadership Summit (held in conjunction with Grow!) I announced the next (pending*) Chair of IMC USA, Loraine Huchler CMC.  Many of you know Loraine and her involvement with IMC USA both at a local (New Jersey) and National level.  Loraine has served our members in a number of different positions, including but not limited to rejuvenating the Chapter Presidents Council, assisting with the development of our Chapter Operations Manual (online), and serving as Trustee from IMC USA to ICMCI, extending our reach into the international marketplace.  [*Elections will be held in the Spring, as in past years.]

Join me in providing a welcoming platform for Loraine on her journey to being Chair.

Stay tuned,

My best,

David

 A membership organzation's lifeblood is its existing members; its future and sustainability is in attracting other professionals into the organization -- members helping members.  Several weeks ago, I blogged here about our Strategic Planning session and the six initiatives and promised to further break them down.  [Note: the delay in this posting is due to a much deserved vacation with my wife.  There are some things you just don't do on a vacation and blogging is one of them.] 

 Member Acquisition:

 When consultants join IMC USA, they find a community of consultants who value excellence and ethics.  They also find a place where they can gain visibility, learn how to grow their business, collaborate with peers, learn new consulting skills, further develop professionalism and find mentors.

 Our chapters have been the 'go-to-place' for members to experience the benefits of belonging to IMC USA.  This fall our chapters will be providing opportunities to learn about the value of our community.  Some of our key initiatives include (1) expanding proven events that showcase the talents and professionalism of our members, (2) clarifying and explaining the WIIFM for prospective members, and (3) providing financial incentives for membership growth to both chapters and to members who refer candidates for membership  These, and other initiatives give every chapter member an opportunity to get involved and build your chapter network.  [Note: if you are interested in bringing one, or more, new members into you chapter, contact your chapter leadership, or Loraine Huchler for more information.]

Not all our members are affiliated with chapters, some 50% are 'at-large.'  Do you want to connect with other peer members?  IMC USA has virtual communities on our website (see http://www.imcusa.org/?page=COMMPRACT) that serve as community interest groups, bringing members together around a common set of issues, e.g., Disciplines, Industries, Management Theme, Client Type, Consulting Firm type, and Practice Management.  [Note: I would encourage all members (including the reader), both at-large and within chapters, to join at least one virtual community, start a conversation or raise an issue, and join forces with another member; build a community one brick at a time.]

 In other Member Acquisition areas, we will be leveraging social media (particularly LinkedIn) and continuing our dialogue with small/boutique consulting firms.

 IMC USA is the only national professional association for consultants and the only organization that certifies management consultants (and the only one who certifies according to ISO standards).  Join us, help us build the 'go-to-place' for consultants and clients.

 In future blogs, I will address other strategic initiatives. 

One another matter, often we hear, "I didn't know that..." or words to that effect.  So, at a risk of 'over-communicating,' a time-critical reminder....

.... Time is running out.  Reservations for Grow! continue to increase and we are now to a point where our reserved room block at the Buena Vista Palace is 82% full.  Further, you only have about two more weeks to reserve your rooms at our incredible $99/night rate; after that, normal rates apply.  Take this time to book your room and register for Grow!  [Note: you have to do both, separately.]  Look over the brochure one more time (see http://www.imcusa.org/?GROW_Intro), check out the quality of the speakers/workshops, join your peers, and learn and Grow!.  Grow! is an enhanced Confab, a conference for professional consultants and, this year, includes a truly international participation.

 Stay tuned,

 My best,

David

Recently one of your fellow members posted an interesting blog.  I am including it, below, both in its entirety and with permission.  Sometimes others can say it best.

A Newbie's View of the IMC Value Proposition

Posted By B. T. Flanagan, Thursday, April 12, 2012

IMC is a learning and mentoring organization that recognizes the value of integrity. All members help mentor each other and learn as we experience new roles.  We also recognize and demand integrity and competence as standards of excellence.  

We serve three classes of members: Newly minted by a sudden or unexpected career transition, those who want to prepare for the next stage of their productive career, and the young , natural learners seeking mentoring. There is something here for everyone.

Let me explain. When functional experts are set free from W-2 hell or transition from doer to leader, they have to adjust and they don't know where to begin. There is nothing better than connecting with a CMC who made the adjustment, who mentors, answering questions and helping the freshly minted independent adjust. We were all inexperienced once ourselves.  

In mentoring, the savvy guide the naive. This could be the experienced bull helping the young conquer all of the herd. It also means the young shows the savvy there are new ways of obsoleting the good old days.  

We will all sharpen our saw by learning new skills and helping us all navigate across generation, gender, and cultural boundaries.  We will help each other learn how to market our skills while achieving legitimacy. We will all create new opportunities from meeting new resource partners and making/ receiving new introductions. This process has no end.  

The CMC certification says I have crossed the divide, I understand my responsibilities and am committed to helping others achieve an equal or higher status. More importantly, It  helps the apprentice define their value proposition.  

More participation means more opportunities. More CMCs means more mentors, higher caliber peers,  more respect and more business for all.

Terry Flanagan, Collaboration Leader - Resource Matchmaker Smart Decisions Services, Inc.

Terry, thank you for those words.

On the back of my business card, I have this word which I learned from a relative new CMC, Jason de Luca (who has his practice in Japan):

Shokunin -- Translation -- Mastery of Profession.  "The Japanese word shokunin is defined by both Japanese and Japanese-English dictionaries as 'craftsman' or 'artisan' but such a literal description does not fully express the deeper meaning.  ...The shokunin has an obligation to work his/her best for the general welfare of the people...the obligation is both spiritual and material...and is the shokunin's responsibility to fulfill the requirement." -- Tasio Odate.

I believe Terry spoke to this obligation when he wrote, "The CMC certification says I have crossed the divide, I understand my responsibilities and am committed to helping others achieve an equal or higher status. More importantly, It  helps the apprentice define their value proposition."