Monday Mindfulness minute: "Plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."

Last week marked the end of an incredible journey that began in 2020. The journey actually began in 2014 when a younger Austin was excited about becoming a member of the Marching Tar Heels during his first year in college. I can't begin to describe the life-changing experiences that marching band provided me, and it felt like a piece of me was missing after I graduated.  

This piece of me returned in 2020 when my friend Adam and I had the idea to officially organize our fellow marching band alumni into a 501(c)7. The UNC Bands Alumni Association was incorporated shortly thereafter and has been in place since to support our current band students while connecting alumni.

Here are the top 5 lessons I've learned along the way: 

• "Plant trees under whose shade you don't plan to sit." 

  • It's easy to stand in the blazing sun and sweat if you can see that others are able to find rest in the shade. The $80,000 in fundraising that we've raised since our inception is that shade for our current students. 

• Succession planning starts on Day 1 

  • The first follower is the most important. It's easy for the founder/idea initiator to be excited, but we must focus on identifying and cultivating the other champions who are going to carry the baton when we’re gone. I didn't do a great job of this, but luckily, the right people found us and the organization is in great hands! 

• A personal ask is always more impactful than a mass email  

  • If you work with a volunteer organization, you know how hard it can be to get folks involved and keep them involved. A personal ask that rests on the relational foundation you've built with them is infinitely more impactful than an email call to action. 

• "If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together." 

  • I quickly learned that starting something is vastly different than growing it. If our goal is to see the pursuit grow beyond initiation, we must be willing to give up the reins and release our expectations.  

• Doing what you love isn't hard  

  • I think we all come to earth with different talents, and part of our journey is uncovering what those are. Once we do, that work isn't really work.