It’s been over 9 months
since I posted about adding another plate to my rotation. We just finished up conducting our first 5k in Atlanta. It’s also the first ever
race that I’ve personally organized. To be clear, I can’t organize anything –
my closet, my fridge, my desk, etc. Turns out I can organize if I’m motivated
enough. Things I’ve learned (or have
been reminded of) along the way:
Ask for Help
I reached out to other local
5k organizers to ask for guidance. They were a wealth of information. One planner in particular told me not to
sweat the small stuff. I had his
guidance in my head for several months. He made me aware of a great local
organization, the Atlanta tool bank. With out the tool bank we would have been scrambling to find affordable tables, garbage bins, megaphone, etc. We also had volunteers from local colleges:
Morehouse, Clark Atlanta and Kennesaw State University. Co-workers participated as well. Whether they participated by running/walking or volunteered their time and skills And of course friends
showed up. Loaning that
last minute gas can or answering the frantic phone call wondering how I got
myself into it. It took a village to pull this off.
Ignore the haters
One person I reached out to
told me that we’d never get anyone to sign up.
He said we’d be one and done.
Atlanta was saturated with races and no one would sign up for a cause as
enigmatic as “peace”. Turns out he was
wrong. :)
One Step in Front of the Other
Along the way I was faced
with things I have not done before (ever fill out a 22 page assembly permit?) but
I just did each thing the best I could.
I found that people were willing to guide as long at they felt I was trying. Each week was another lesson learned and
another obstacle climbed.
Trust in your Support System
Others from my organization
live outside the state of Georgia. Even though they were remote, they were able
to handle many of the to-dos needed for a successful event. From signing up
community tables to finding the rock star speaker and even renting the
porta-potty. The morning of the event
while I was out marking the course, I came back and everything was just
magically happening! We divided, conquered and trusted that each other was following through.
Pay it Forward
We had several local 5k's
promote our race. They did not treat us
as a competitor but as an organization part of a bigger community that was
trying to do some good. They helped get the word out via social media and their races all while promoting their own. We will do the same and
pay it forward.
Reflecting among these
lessons, they are likely solid lessons for current and future leaders.
Especially the last lesson.
Peace.
