This morning I let my fellow RCAC members know that I would not be running for a second term as chair of the RCAC when my term is up in January. It was a difficult decision for me as it’s been an honor to serve as the leader of leaders. I’ve really seen folks working together to a degree I hadn’t seen in a long while. That seems like a good time to step aside, though, doesn’t it? When things are going well?
I have had a few chairs ask if I would consider staying on but I was noncommittal until today. Part of my job as leader is to help create other leaders. People tend to step up when there’s a leadership opportunity. I have confidence that the RCAC will have a great leader to follow me and that the RCAC will continue to grow and prosper.
When I considered running for chair last year, I had in mind that I would serve one year only. It’s proven to be a rewarding experience and I was quite tempted to run again. That said, something tells me I need to stick with my plan. I have taken on roles with both Friends of World Music and Little Raleigh Radio, roles that have turned out to be far more interesting than I first anticipated. The help I’m providing these nonprofits is making me grow in different ways than the growth I’ve gained through my CAC efforts. One type of growth isn’t better than the other, necessarily, it’s just different.
I’ve been working at a pretty high level over the past several years, enjoying the work but also seeing if I was up the challenge (and I am). There are plenty of things I still want to accomplish in my life and plenty of time to accomplish them. With that in mind I will take a little time to do some things that I really enjoy doing.
There will be other opportunities that will beckon. Some of them might lure me. There’s a time for everything, though, and I’ll consider those only when I’m good and ready.