Members Only | 06.06.25
The Power of Courage in the MSP Community
By Karen Claxton, MBA, CPCS, CPMSM, FMSP
As I write this message on Memorial Day, I can’t believe the year is almost half over. The year is passing by at lightning speed. As I take some time to reflect during this long holiday weekend, I am grateful for the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our country. May we never forget the cost of our freedom. To the families who have lost loved ones in combat, our thoughts and prayers are with you as our entire nation remembers and pays respect to these heroes.
Courage is what I think about on Memorial Day. Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but action despite fear. The men and women who have died in combat were courageous, and I have no doubt there was also fear. Their action, despite their fear, contributed to our freedom. Most of us never face this kind of adversity, but there are other examples of courage that we do experience.
If we look around us, we can see examples of courage in our fellow MSPs. It took courage to submit an abstract to present at the NAMSS 49th Educational Conference and Exhibition in Portland, Oregon, Sept. 28–Oct. 1. Well over 100 abstracts were received, and several were first-time submitters. It takes courage to volunteer to stand in front of your colleagues and share your knowledge and experience, and we all benefit from their contributions. The conference committee is courageously tweaking offerings and trying new things to keep the conference fresh and relevant.
We see courage in the 10 MSPs participating in the inaugural offering of the NAMSS Tomorrow’s Leaders Program. This impactful program was developed by past presidents based on Henry Givray’s Leadership’s Calling program. The program entails self-reflection to study and apply leadership tenets. An honest look at our thoughts, values, and behaviors is not for the weak. I am excited to see the personal and professional growth of the participants.
Those who volunteer for board positions are courageous. It isn’t easy to put yourself out there and go through the interview process. Participating in an election is a bit scary and requires vulnerability. Committing your time to volunteer in this capacity requires fortitude, determination, and a thick skin at times.
MSPs sitting for a certification are courageous. The exams are difficult and require months of preparation and commitment. It takes bravery to put your knowledge to test and invest time and money into certification. This year, many MSPs will bravely be the first to take the new CPES exam. While sitting for any certification exam is difficult, sitting for a new certification at the initial offering is full of unknowns and requires courage and determination.
I can’t think about courage without considering fear. Fear is a response to danger, threats, and unknowns. We need fear to help keep us safe, but we don’t want fear to keep us from growing personally and professionally. Many fear failure, so they avoid situations that may result in failure. The mindset is looking at these situations as win or lose.
I think the mindset around failure is important. I heard a statement many years ago that was impactful: “I don’t lose. I either win or I learn.” It helped me put “failure” into perspective. Failure isn’t losing, it is an opportunity to learn and gives us capacity to innovate.
What are you allowing fear to hold you back from? Certification? Applying for fellow status? Volunteering for your state or national association? Giving a presentation? Going back to school? Applying for your dream job? Mentoring new MSPs? Asking for a raise? A personal goal? Isn’t it time to take the chance to win or learn? I would love to hear about your goal, cheer you on, be your accountability partner, and celebrate with you. Send me and email (Karen.Claxton@att.net) or give me a call (912-535-5894) and let me know what you will courageously be pursuing.
I hope to connect with you during one of our quarterly town halls, in the Connection Zone, and/or at conference in Portland. (Registration for the NAMSS 49th Educational Conference and Exhibition is now open! Register now to join us.) Plus, keep abreast of opportunities with the NAMSS calendar of events.