At the mid-year point of 2008, let’s collectively collect our thoughts and pause for a moment.

Why do you belong to MANA? There are many good reasons, and one is certainly because it’s the right thing to do. You belong because you support this wonderful profession that has been instrumental in creating your success. Belonging is also about the critical action of participating. You are MANA, and we want you to engage. We want you to network, share, and help reinforce the MANA community.

Within my short time at MANA, thus far (1½ years), I have had the opportunity to meet with many of you in person or to talk with you on the phone. Invariably, I hear the pride in your voices when you tell me that you’ve “been a member since….” or “been a member for __ years” or any one of the many other memorable MANA experiences. I hear the passion!

We have also heard lots about being more prepared in today’s ever-changing business climate. Manufacturers, especially, have told reps to do more planning, training, and educating. The Best in Class salespeople are those who are the most prepared and take the time for professional development.

MANA has many resources to assist you in these areas and the best is simply communication. More conversations, more information, more sharing and more networking. We learn from each other and we need you to share. We need your investment of time and we need your support in providing feedback. This is how we will solve your problems and the biggest challenges that we all face.

There’s quite a bit of apathy today. So have passion — about your job, about your company, about the rep function, about MANA. Plan, train, educate and get excited.

Go sell something — and let’s have some productive fun!