Author: Jim Thompson


  • 4 Leadership Skills Every Association Professional Needs to Stand Out

    Over the next few weeks, I’m unpacking the habits outlined in Be the Unicorn, not just as concepts, but as practical leadership traits that show up in the day-to-day reality of association management. My hope isn’t just that you recognize these traits in others, but that you begin to see where they already exist in…

  • I Paid $60 for Parking and Got Something Better in Return

    How many times do you walk past people and never even acknowledge them? Or worse, make a rude gesture because they cut in front of you in the Starbucks line or stepped into the elevator before letting others get out? And why would you even bother acknowledging anyone anyway? Most of the time, people have…

  • The 1% Leader: What ‘Unicorns’ Get Right in Association Management

    William Vanderblomen realized something remarkable after 15 years of conducting executive searches. After combing data from that entire period, he identified a set of unique habits, traits, and attributes shared by the most effective leaders. He called them the “Twelve Data-Driven Habits that Separate the Best Leaders from the Rest,” outlined in his book Be…

  • Leave No Man Behind: Overcoming Loneliness in Mid-life

    If you have known me for longer than eight years, you’ve heard or seen me talk or post about F3. My wife thinks I belongs to a cult. Apparently so do all of the other wives of other F3 guys across the country. I mean, we do get up at 5A, rain or shine, hot…

  • Faith Without Action Is Dead -And It Changed My Life

    For many, including myself, this week is very special as it marks holy weeks for both Christians and Jews. I am a Christian, and today is Maundy Thursday. “Maundy” comes from Latin and means “a new commandment I give to you.” As part of my Thursday blog posts, I’ve dedicated this time to share more…

  • When “Good Enough” Isn’t Enough: How Data Turned AENC into the Premier Resource

    I am currently working with my first client at Tying It Together Consulting, and the project centers on something they believe they do very well for their members. However, several public and private organizations are actually delivering those same services more effectively. While that scenario may sound eerily familiar to some of you, it immediately…

  • People Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel

    A few weeks ago I was sitting outside the office with a good friend, chatting about our children. He mentioned that his youngest had recently been accepted into Appalachian State University. While he was excited for him to experience the book learning that comes with a university education, he also didn’t want him to take…

  • In a World of Neckties, Why Knot Be Different?

    The Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC) hosted a Legislative Reception every two years to kick off the long session of the NC General Assembly. And this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill event. The reception brought out the who’s who of North Carolina’s political scene. It was a chance to connect with those recently elected or re-elected.…

  • The Mentor Who Shaped My Association Career – And Why It Led Me to Launch Tying It Together Consulting

    “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – When I first heard that Mark Twain quote, I wasn’t sure what it meant. I was fairly certain it didn’t apply to working in tobacco fields during middle school, baking bagels at Bruegger’s in North Hills…

  • A Realistic Weight-Loss Story: Progress, Setbacks and Staying Healthy

    The guy who asked, “Why?Are you being chased?” If you’ve known me for less than 10 years, you probably wouldn’t guess that I used to be the guy who, when someone said they were going to run a 5K, would respond with, “Why? Is someone chasing you?” But in 2016, and every year before that,…