Join the Journey: EFBC Committee Opportunities for Every Member

July 2024 marks the beginning of EFBC’s 35th anniversary year. The programming committee is hard at work finalizing the details of our programming plan for next year. We have so many great events in store, and I’m excited to see each of them come to fruition. It’s fun to work with the committee and our very hardworking staff to put the plan together. It’s rewarding to fulfill a mission of business education and social connection for people I hold so dear and an organization in which I believe so strongly. So it is in that spirit that wholeheartedly extend an invitation to all EFBC members to consider committee participation and join in giving back to EFBC.

We need you. It’s important to understand EFBC is not a high-priced heavily-staffed peer group with teams of employees developing programming and impersonal content for members to consume. By design, EFBC is an organization that asks its members to be involved in creating the membership experience we all share. Aside from our very hard-working staff of three (yes, three), our members and strategic partners create, curate, or arrange each of the blog entries, programs, keynotes, round tables, panel discussions, and every other aspect of the EFBC experience. As it is with Forum, the cornerstone of EFBC is shared experiences, from member to member, and the only way to achieve that is to have members involved in creating the experiences we all enjoy. Committees are where members make EFBC come to life. As members, we need your help to keep creating the magic of EFBC. We need your expertise, experience, and wisdom to help drive our fantastic and unique member-driven organization.

Most committees meet 2 or 3 times per year. The actual time commitment is small, but even in a short amount of time you can make a big difference. Committee members lend their expertise and leadership, or sometimes their connections (know any great keynote speakers?) These are invaluable contributions that may not take much time. Also, EFBC draws from the committees for its future leaders. Most committee chairs sit on the Board of Directors. The board leadership (Vice President, President, Past President) are rotating positions that have to be filled with new people each year.

In addition to the Board of Directors, the EFBC has five organizational committees that cover all the major aspects of the organization, our members, and strategic partners. Here is a basic rundown of what each committee does and how you might get involved:

• Forum Chair Committee – This is often the first committee many EFBC members encounter when they find themselves as new members after becoming Chairs of their respective Forums. As the name suggests, the Forum Chair committee provides a venue for the chairs of each Forum to meet as a group twice a year and discuss Forum best practices, raise concerns, share experiences, and learn from one another. The committee also provides a direct connection between each Forum and the EFBC Board and Staff It represents an excellent opportunity for you to represent your Forum to the broader EFBC family, effectively communicate and advocate for your Forum, and to share your knowledge and experiences to help other Forums provide the best experience for their members. If this interests you, you need only volunteer to be your Forum’s Chair next season.
• Forum Protocol Committee – This committee is also dedicated to delivering the highest quality forum experience for every member with a focus on how the organization can support that experience. This committee is the keeper of the Forum Protocol and provides protocol training for new and exiting members. They also assist in onboarding and placement of new members within forums. More than anything this committee concerns itself with the forum experience as a whole and enabling each forum to provide the best experience for each member. The question of what makes a forum experience great is important and complex. The members of this committee are well-suited to answer it and support EFBC’s Forums every step of the way. If this is the kind of work that interests you, you may be interested in the Forum Protocol Committee.
• Programming Committee – The programming committee brings to life all of the educational and social events for the organization outside of Forum. Everything from keynote speakers, to leadership courses, to HR roundtables, the programming committee is responsible for creating and planning the events and assisting our incredibly hard-working staff with the execution. These programs are how we deliver the EFBC mission of educating, empowering, and providing social connection to our members as well as how we introduce future members to who we are. We play an outsized role in shaping the impact the EFBC will have for our members and strategic partners as well as the legacy of the organization overall. If this sounds interesting to you, we need your experience, expertise, ideas, and enthusiasm to join us!
• Marketing and Membership Committee – As business leaders, we can all appreciate the need for a well-planned and well-executed marketing program. In a nutshell this is the role of the Marketing and Membership Committee. The committee is responsible for design and implementation of the annual marketing plan, membership outreach, recruitment, and retention initiatives.
• Strategic Partner Committee – Our strategic partners our vital members of the EFBC family. The strategic partner committee fosters dialog, collaboration, and shared experiences among strategic partners, enhancing their ability to support the EFBC members. The committee also ensure strategic partners derive professional and personal enrichment from their commitment to the EFBC.

I hope this article has helped illustrate what a vital role committees play in EFBC and what an import role you can play by joining a committee that interests you. Whether you are a new or long-time member, a past committee member or someone who has never joined, I hope you will please consider giving the gift of your time and talent to the EFBC.

President’s Letter: The Art of Business Growth

Dear EFBC Members,

March brings with it an opportunity for introspection and reflection on our growth strategies and the health of our businesses. Recently, I had the privilege of reading an insightful article in the Harvard Business Review titled “How Fast Should Your Company Really Grow?”. It raised thought-provoking questions about the true measure of a company’s success and the implications of rapid growth on internal components such as company culture, customer relationships, innovation, and capital.

1. Right-Sizing Growth is a Vital Consideration

The article prompted me to ponder: In our pursuit of growth in revenues and profits, are we neglecting the foundational elements that truly make a company successful? Can these internal components scale effectively alongside rapid growth? As business owners and managers, it’s imperative that we consider how to “right size” growth to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of our organizations. This involves striking a delicate balance between expansion and maintaining the integrity of our company culture, talent pool, customer relationships, innovation capacity, and financial stability.

2. Crafting a Great Business Growth Strategy

What does it take to develop a great business growth strategy that aligns with the core values and capabilities of our organization? It’s about more than just chasing numbers; it’s about fostering sustainable growth that enhances the overall health and vitality of our businesses. It requires a strategic approach that takes into account market dynamics, internal resources, and long-term objectives. As we navigate the complexities of growth, let’s remember the importance of thoughtful planning, adaptability, and a commitment to excellence in all aspects of our operations.

Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendars

• Breakfast Club: Cybersecurity – Thursday, March 21st
  Join us for a collaborative workshop on Cybersecurity best practices, presented in partnership with strategic partners PSM Partners, Wintrust Financial Corporation, and our partner Alera Group. This event will equip you with valuable insights to safeguard your business against cyber threats.
• Hybrid Roundtable: Demystifying Key Person Insurance – Wednesday, March 27th
  Facilitated by our Strategic Partner, Marcus Newman from ALERA Group, this roundtable will shed light on the importance of Key Person Insurance in business planning. Gain a deeper understanding of its significance, costs, potential challenges, and how it can protect your business from unforeseen circumstances.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and participation in our vibrant EFBC community. Together, we will continue to thrive and evolve in pursuit of our shared goals.

Warm Regards,

Dave Horvath
EFBC President 2023-2024

The Value of Surrounding Yourself with “Like-Minded” People

At this point in your career, you’ve probably heard the advice “surround yourself with like-minded people.” Perhaps you’ve heard this wisdom from a business course or a trusted mentor, or even found it in another online blog — a simple search of the term “like-minded” on LinkedIn yields pages and pages of posts on the topic.

Like many cliches, this advice is ubiquitous for a reason: it works. Just ask co-founders and CEOs Luis van Ahn and Severin Hacker. As expats who met in Silicon Valley and were English language learners themselves, both men saw the utility in gamifying the language learning experience. This led to the creation of Duolingo, the number one worldwide language learning application, with 74.1 million active monthly users.

There’s no doubt that the shared backgrounds and mindsets of these men contributed to the success of Duolingo, and countless other CEOs have cited the teams and peers they surround themselves with as instrumental pieces in their successes. But you don’t have to go to Silicon Valley to meet the Severin Hacker to your Luis van Ahn. In fact, you can find your “like-minded people” right here at EFBC! Our forums offer unique spaces where individuals can connect with other business leaders in small settings. They also provide a space in which those leaders can delve into impactful discussions on shared challenges, find solutions, and receive support in every step of their leadership journeys. But as you network at our forums and beyond, it’s also worth keeping in mind exactly what CEOs mean when they say “like-minded.”

Because the unfortunate truth is, too many business leaders take “like-minded” to mean “people who think exactly like me.” This can, in turn, lead to CEOs hiring workforces whose backgrounds, personal identifiers, and even educational experiences all align. Not only does this actively work against the stated diversity missions that many companies have, but it can be detrimental to bottom lines. In fact, 85% of CEOs cite diverse workforces as a factor in driving both innovation and business growth.

So if we agree that “surrounding yourself with like-minded people” doesn’t mean surrounding yourself with clones who talk and think exactly like you, what does it mean? The answer is: different things to different people. But what most successful CEOs have in common is the stated mission of surrounding themselves with the people they need to succeed. And when they say “like-minded,” here are some qualifiers on which they tend to align when pressed further on the topic:

• Like-minded people don’t always agree with you, but they share your goals and values.
• They want to see you succeed. They celebrate and share your wins.
• They want to elevate themselves. They believe that rising tides float all boats.
• They are often smarter than you or have already accomplished your goals. They can serve as mentors and role models.

Another tip that many CEOs shared on this topic was another tried and true cliche: “If you can’t play tennis, watch the game.” Perhaps you can’t make your role models your peers just yet, and that’s okay. But in the world we live in, you can consume their blog posts, podcasts, books, and YouTube videos. The beauty of the modern age is that “surrounding yourself with like-minded people” doesn’t have to be a physical act. Often, their tips, tricks, and innermost thoughts are available with just a click.