Today's Marketing Cookie - Rockin' Run

Today's fortune comes from Karen Stone of Nashville, TN. Karen is the President of the Professional Chapters Council for the American Marketing Association. If you are unsure of what that means, you should sit back in your chair, and say, "Wow!", because it means she is the top volunteer in the association. When I say, "top volunteer", I don't mean "most important", "sweetest" or "most powerful", although many would argue that she is all of these things. Karen is the top volunteer because she is the hardest working of all.  She gives the most, and for that, you should say, "double wow!" and follow her on Twitter: @catalyst4biz

Today's Marketing Cookie is dedicated to the thousands of volunteers who make the American Marketing Association relevant in the local community!

Today is July 4th. Today is the day when our nation celebrates its independence. We are reminded of the thousands of colonial farmers who chose to put down their shovels, pick axes and plows, to take up their muskets and stand together against the world's mightiest superpower. They were ill trained, ill equipped and the odds were stacked against them, yet they stood strong and did not falter. Today we celebrate the precious gift of independence that was paid for, on our behalf, with the blood of determined patriots.

Today is also the 4th day of your term as a volunteer for the American Marketing Association. While you have not been asked to give your life for the association, you did promise to give your time. You gave up time with friends and family to fulfill your promise. You chose to work with other volunteers to make marketing more relevant in the community, more effective in practice, and to uphold good ethical principles. You chose to share ideas, to get closer with other marketers, and to get closer to your profession, all of which, is an important promise and a substantial commitment.

When I first became a board member for the Boston chapter seven years ago, my mother first congratulated me. She smiled and then her face was washed over with seriousness as she explained that, "you will most certainly get out of it, something equal to whatever you put in." She followed by saying, "In whatsoever you choose to do, do it to the best of your ability... and then add ten percent." I followed her advice and put a lot of time, effort and energy into the AMA... plus ten percent.

She was right!

As a result of listening to my mother, I became a smarter marketer. But that's not all... my professional LinkedIn network grew to about 5,000 contacts, my Twitter followers grew to about 57,000, I was honored as the Volunteer of the Year last year, and have just started a three-year term as a member of the International Board of Directors. Most of all, I made many good friends... which is like getting a ten percent bonus.

Mostly, I just want to say thank you for making the promises you've made to the AMA, and for the enormous commitment you've made to your career. Professionals like you, who are willing to volunteer for the AMA elevate themselves above their peers. You are a self-starter. You are inspired with a heart for "giving", rather than those who are looking for short cuts and are only motivated by "getting". You are a leader, an inspiration for others, and you bring greatness to the AMA.  This is July 4th, the forth day of your term as a volunteer, and I believe, a rockin' run is in the near future. Start strong, finish strong... and add ten percent.

If you are not familiar with the largest association for professional marketers, I encourage you to check out the AMA: www.marketingpower.com