From the President

By Mike Horsfield, PT, MBA

Winston Churchill once said, “Never let a good crisis go to waste.”

This insightful, optimistic, and inspiring perspective during the darkest of times can be a transformational leadership lesson if we choose to embrace the embers of chaos as a gift to ignite real change. The crisis over the past two years solidified the direct correlation between the capacity to change and the outcome continuum of survive to thrive. Then as the COVID ashes cooled we were all faced with the most difficult challenge of all. Do we incorporate the lessons learned and create lasting, meaningful change? Or do we give in to the enemy of progress called comfort and return to our previous ways?

The pandemic forced APTA and its chapters and sections to collaborate in unprecedented ways. Witnessing Dr. Dunn’s “better together” in action during this time was beautiful. Was this a transformational or transient time for our profession? Was our federated model maturing from the ego-supporting stage of independence to the promised abundance of the land of component interdependence? Or would the brighter days ahead be accompanied by our reassuring friend called “business as usual”?

As we enter into PPS’s new fiscal year I am proud to let you know that the members of your Board of Directors have embraced the lessons of the past couple years. And they certainly seem to have no use for being comfortable. They recognize that to champion your success we must utilize all OUR association resources effectively and efficiently. Led by the PPS core value of collaboration, we have engaged APTA and other components in a journey toward permanent interdependence. Conversations have focused on how to serve YOU “better . . . together” by making ownership easier.

Guided by this organizational maturity, we have created an aligned strategy, a fiscally responsible budget, and a responsive operational plan. The State Payment and Advocacy Resource Center (SPARC), workforce initiatives, and aligned advocacy strategies are just a few of the early tangible results you can expect from this new way of doing business. What about you? Are your flames of organizational and personal change still lighting up your communities, or do they need to be stoked? Are you still investing in the kindled and rekindled relationships you developed around the COVID fire, or has your old nemesis “too busy” butted back in?

As the African proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

You Got This!

Together . . . We Got This!