“But I’m trying to beat the odds.”
This was my 78-year-old dad’s response when I suggested that most people would be happy with a 3-mile walk. He was lamenting that he only had time that day for 3 miles instead of his usual 9-mile daily walk or 50-mile bike ride.
His comment made me curious: what are the odds he’s trying to beat? He wants to live healthier and longer than “most people,” he said. Research shows that a typical 78-year-old man can perform basic self-care and moderate activities but may struggle with more demanding physical challenges. My dad is clearly beating those odds. (My 82-year-old mom too, who puts in 90 minutes a day on the treadmill.)
The Organizational Health Parallel
This conversation got me thinking about organizational longevity and what it means to “beat the odds” in leadership—whether you are leading a membership association or managing a government agency.
Many organizations struggle with declining engagement, leadership burnout, and relevance challenges as their sectors evolve. Like individual health, organizational health requires intentional, sustained effort.
In my work with association boards and public sector leaders, I have observed that organizations that thrive long-term share characteristics remarkably similar to my dad’s approach to physical health:
They reject “typical.” High-performing organizations continuously push beyond industry averages, asking “What would exceptional look like?”
They invest in prevention. Just as my dad’s daily exercise wards off health crises, successful organizations invest in robust systems and strategic planning before problems emerge.
They maintain consistent discipline. Thriving organizations stay committed to stakeholder value and mission focus even when it’s challenging.
Building Organizational Fitness
As leaders, we have the privilege to design systems, sustainable workloads, and leadership pipelines that support organizational wellness – creating efficient processes so leaders can focus on strategy, not drown in operational details.
At MHQ, we’ve learned that organizational health requires the same intentionality my dad brings to his fitness routine. When organizations partner with us, they’re hiring a team of operational fitness trainers—professionals who handle the conditioning so leadership can focus on strategic strength-building.
The Long View
While I do not always hit the mark personally —sugar remains my kryptonite—I believe in health. I believe that healthy communities depend on healthy systems and healthy people.
Nothing inspires me more than the vision of looking back decades from now, knowing we created spaces and supported communities in ways that helped them thrive.
I wish the same vitality for you and your organization that my dad has found—and the wisdom to build systems that make that vitality sustainable.
About MHQ
Driven by the vision of a thriving, vibrant community, MHQ is a woman-owned, world-class management company that delivers customized services. Founded in 2013, MHQ has provided association management services since its inception, as well as infrastructure to organizations in a range of industries. We serve professional and trade associations, as well as government and public sector entities. For more about MHQ, visit https://www.management-hq.com/.
