Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! With the New Year comes reflection on 2010 and thoughts about how to improve in 2011.

I had the pleasure today of hearing Debbie Yow deliver a keynote address at a professional women's luncheon. Debbie is the Athletic Director at NC State University, one of only three female ADs in the nation. She's an impressive professional and a pioneer in her field. She delivered an inspiring talk today.

Her words were about success. She laid out a 3 step gameplan, that I believe is particularly prescriptive (and timely) for evaluating alliance relationships.

1. Assess the current state. Honestly and accurately evaluate where you are now.
2. Set the right goals for the right reasons.
3. Guage progress.

She also outlined what she coined "dream killers"

• Tradition. "I honor the past, but I don't want to live there."
• Fear.
• Stereotypes.
• Complacency.
• Fatigue.
• Short term thinking.
• Ineffective communication.
• Lack of vision.

As you evaluate your alliance organization and partnerships, her words would be good to keep in mind...