A month ago, I accepted the role of President of the Rotary Club of the Original Mile with a vision, countless digital notes, and more confidence than experience.
I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the first month would look like.
I didn't. Not even close.
You can attend PETS, read the Rotary manuals, talk with past presidents, study the bylaws, and build strategic plans. Those things are valuable. They prepare you for running a club. They don't prepare you for leading people.
A month ago, I accepted the role of President of the Rotary Club of the Original Mile with a vision, countless digital notes, and more confidence than experience.
I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the first month would look like.
I didn't. Not even close.
You can attend PETS, read the Rotary manuals, talk with past presidents, study the bylaws, and build strategic plans. Those things are valuable. They prepare you for running a club. They don't prepare you for leading people.
Before this journey began, I had already resigned from three different Rotary clubs. Each experience came with valuable lessons, difficult conversations, and a growing belief that there had to be a better way for me to contribute. Those experiences also reminded me that it's okay not to fit everywhere. Sometimes growth comes from recognizing when it's time to move in a different direction rather than forcing yourself into a place that isn't the right fit.
Instead of walking away from Rotary, I chose to help build something new - a club centered on transparency, service, innovation, and genuine fellowship. Along the way, I carried forward the relationships, lessons, and experiences that shaped me. Those transitions also gave me the opportunity to start a podcast, build a new company, develop lasting friendships, and ultimately create something that better aligned with my values and vision for serving others.
That decision became the Rotary Club of the Original Mile.
We're only one month into this journey, and it's already been filled with opportunities to learn, adapt, and lay the foundation for something truly meaningful.
The Highs
We've chartered a brand-new Rotary club, installed our charter officers, welcomed guests who are discovering Rotary for the first time, and started planning projects that will make a real difference in our community.
Over the past month, complete strangers have become teammates. Members have stepped up without being asked. New friendships have formed, and a shared belief has emerged that we're building something special.
Those moments remind me why Rotary exists. The meetings matter. The projects matter. The fundraising matters. But the people are what make Rotary work.
The Challenges
Leadership isn't the photos posted on social media. It's the conversations no one else hears, the emails that require careful thought, and balancing different opinions while keeping everyone focused on the mission. It's making decisions that move the organization forward, even when they're uncomfortable, and accepting that not everyone will agree with every choice.
One lesson that has become clear is that every organization has personalities, differing viewpoints, and moments of disagreement. That's not unique to Rotary, it's simply part of working with passionate people. The challenge isn't avoiding conflict; it's making sure the mission remains bigger than the disagreement. Leadership also means knowing when to say yes, when to say no, and having the confidence to establish healthy boundaries so your time and energy are spent where they make the greatest impact.
Some of the most important leadership moments never make it into a photo album. They're picking up the pizza before a meeting without worrying about which card is being used, responding thoughtfully to difficult emails, making the phone calls that need to happen, and quietly solving problems before they become someone else's. One thing leadership quickly teaches is that there will never be enough hours in the day. The challenge is deciding what matters most and keeping the mission at the center of every decision.
Building a Culture
Starting a new Rotary club isn't simply about filling meeting agendas. It's about building a culture from day one - a culture where people feel welcome, where new ideas are encouraged, where technology is embraced as a tool rather than feared as a threat, where questions are welcomed, and where service comes before titles.
Culture isn't something you write in a strategic plan. It's something you create through your actions every week.
What I've Learned So Far
If this first month has taught me anything, it's this: leadership is less about having the right answers and more about asking the right questions.
It's about listening before speaking, empowering others instead of trying to do everything yourself, and remembering that every member brings something valuable to the table.
Most of all, it's about staying focused on why we're here in the first place: to serve our community and make it a little better than we found it.
Looking Ahead
One month isn't enough time to measure success, but it's enough time to know we're moving in the right direction.
There will be setbacks. There will be lessons. There will undoubtedly be moments where plans change. But there will also be friendships formed, lives impacted, and opportunities to serve that make every challenge worthwhile.
If the first month is any indication, the best chapters of the Rotary Club of the Original Mile are still ahead. I'm excited to see where this next year leads us, and even more excited about what we'll build together in the years ahead.