FROM THE CEO

Daniel Mulloy | Chief Executive Officer , ARTA

There are the diverse and changing needs of our members . There are the shifting industry and political realities that require us to re-think our strategies . There are our 60 + staff members , each with their own areas of expertise , that are constantly coming up with new ideas on how to improve our suite of services . All this , plus more , leaves our leadership team with a lot to consider .

So how do we aim for success amid this overabundance of information ? Success in a leadership role in an organization like ARTA requires the ability to be aware , to integrate information , and to delegate tasks to those who can best carry them out . In short , success requires the ability to remain mindful . Proper mindfulness reduces stress in our workdays as we take stock of different priorities , and it allows us to perform our roles with clear heads and sound judgment as we focus on the needs of the present and quiet the sounds of everything else . Those benefits of mindfulness are even passed onto ARTA members in the form of better service and enhanced offerings .

But mindfulness is not just a tool for the workplace . It ’ s a tool for life . When we log off of our laptops at the end of each workday , I always tell my staff they should really be logged out — no checking emails or making plans for the next workday . I want them to be as mindful of their families and their hobbies as they were of their work during the day .

That advice goes for retirement too . When you leave the workplace for the last time , really leave it . Whatever you want the focus of your retirement to be — travel , your family , your community — let that be your focus . You ’ ll appreciate that you did . Mindfulness requires no special abilities or extensive training , only a willingness to be present . Simple grounding exercises , such as mindful breathing or walking , can be easily integrated into our daily lives . Even a few minutes of mindfulness can make a significant difference .

Within the pages of this magazine are many tips and inspiring stories of how to live a more mindful life . Don ’ t be afraid to return to them if at first you find mindfulness difficult to achieve . Mindfulness is a practice , but it also takes practise . So , as best as you are able , try to be mindful of being mindful .

58 | arta . net MINDFULNESS