ROGERS — One way to become a leader is to focus on what you love, Betsy Reithemeyer told the membership of the Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders.

During the quarterly meeting, members of the leadership group heard from two speakers about personal growth.

There are four tracks that members can develop through Emerging Leaders, explained Amber Savage Reifschneider. Quarterly meetings focus on one of the tracks. The others are politics, business and community development.

The members share the goal of affecting change rather than waiting to be effected, member Jene Huffman-Gilreath said. They’ll do that by becoming the leaders the community needs.

Attitude is important, Reithemeyer said. It’s the one thing people can change about their life.

“You have a choice,” she said.

Find what you love and then find a way to get paid to do it.

One mistake people make is trying to be the decision maker beforethey’ve gained enough experience.

Everyone, she said, wants to be the boss, but it’s smarter to listen and learn first.

A turning point in Reithemeyer’s career came when she left Wal-Mart to work for a new bank. The position at Parkway Bank didn’t work out, then she had a family crisis. Her father died suddenly and she needed to spend time with her mother. Leaving Wal-Mart made it possible for her to take that time.

In the end, it was a good career decision even though the job didn’t work out, she said.

Eventually, Reithemeyer took the job as the chief operating office for the Center for Nonprofits at St. Mary’s.

The younger leaders also heard from Lifecoach Carl Sloan. Balance is intertwined with finding your passion, she said. As a Lifecoach, she works like a travel guide, helping her clients focus on what they want and then helping them determine what’s needed to get it.

Take the time to consider what you want, she said.

Some people find it’s helpful to journal or draw or write a contract with your future self.

Don’t postpone your passion, she said. Reality checks are good, but everyone should honor their passion.

Leave negative voices behind, she said, and set goals for yourself.

“It’s not about wealth,” she said. “It’s about being the best you can be.”

About 35 future leaders attended the afternoon session at the Center for Nonprofits. In between quarterly meetings most members work in smaller groups dedicated to downtown Roger, parks and trails, sustainability, politics and creating a leadership pool.

News, Pages 1 on 11/04/2009

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