As I embark on any new venture, I always like to take a little time to reflect on what brought me to this point. As infopreneurs, many of us will be familiar with the knowledge management concepts of ‘lessons learnt’ and ‘peer reviews’ for projects. And we probably apply those concepts as second nature to our client projects. But how many of us consciously take the time to reflect on our personal work or life journey?
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Quarterly series
President’s Message: Set Your Conference Goals Early
By Karen Klein
In April I will attend my 18th consecutive AIIP Annual Conference. Wow! I vividly remember my first AIIP Conference in Tucson, Arizona. I joined AIIP in December 2004 after taking a two-year professional hiatus following the birth of my daughter. I had explored many different options for a flexible work schedule that would use my education, build upon my corporate experience, and be something I enjoy.
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President’s Message: Revisiting the AIIP 2021 Conference
By Karen Klein
After attending a conference or workshop, I am always energized and filled with lots of good ideas (and intentions): tools to incorporate, books to read, and people to connect with. Unfortunately, when I return to the office or, in this wacky state of COVID-19 and virtual events, stay in my office, I get caught up in the day-to-day busyness and my good intentions fall by the wayside.
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President’s Message: Hiding in Plain Sight
By Karen Klein
One of the icebreakers during the virtual AIIP conference in April was to select something from our work space and share it with our table mates. As I looked around my office, I realized that the tchotchkes, photos, and mementoes I acquired over the years had simply faded into my surroundings. It was as if I were seeing them for the first time.
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AIIP: Agile Independent Information Professionals Weather the Storms
Wow – what a year we just had. Like many others, as we begin 2021, I am wondering when we will get back to normal—and what exactly normal will look like!
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AIIP: Celebrating and Supporting Global Entrepreneurs
Miriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines an entrepreneur as “one who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.” No one ever said it was easy, but the thrill and satisfaction that come from owning and managing your own business are worth every bit of the effort. And having a solid network in your corner can greatly improve your chances of success.
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We’re a Diverse Set of Business Owners with the Desire to Grow
When you hear Independent Information Professional, what do you think of? Someone who organizes, shares, or disseminates information? That is true, though it can manifest in several different ways. Our members run the gamut from technologists, researchers, coaches, marketing professionals, knowledge managers, web designers, private investigators, thought leaders, and public speakers. We are scattered throughout the world, yet we are all connected by the desire to grow and flourish as business owners.
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AIIP – Supporting Independent Information Professionals Since 1987
These are challenging times. COVID-19 has changed the landscape of economic and social activity globally, and it is likely that how we work and interact with others will be forever altered as a result. One thing that has remained constant for me throughout is the support that I receive from AIIP. My colleagues within AIIP are all facing the same challenges in terms of how to navigate the changing landscape of today as an independent business owner.
Many of the conference sessions that were to take place at our annual conference in Denver this year have been moved to virtual sessions, where we are able to converse with each other and discuss how the presentations relate to our new reality. Examples of upcoming sessions over the next two months include Staying Healthy in the Office, 30 Sites in 45 Minutes, and Managing Anxiety. In addition, some regional groups are transitioning their networking to virtual Zoom meetings so that more members can attend and connect to discuss shifting business plans.
Our Peer to Peer Support program continues to provide a variety of ways to connect personally with another member, offering guidance and support for navigating any professional challenges we may be facing. There are currently four types of support offered: a Kick-Starter Conversation, a Three-Month Mentoring relationship, the Accountability Buddies program, and the One-Year Mentoring relationship. The Peer to Peer Support Committee matches up members of similar business types and expertise to ensure a custom, highly valuable experience.
I feel fortunate to have my AIIP network as the ace in my pocket for any surprises that are thrown my way. The resources that AIIP provides are invaluable to me as I continue to navigate owning and operating my own business. I encourage anyone who has either started or is thinking about starting their own business to look at our offerings to see what AIIP can provide. Join us to see how consistently AIIP has been equipping independent information professionals for ongoing business success since 1987.
Jennifer Pflaumer serves as AIIP’s 2020-2021 president. She launched her information management consultancy, Paroo, in 2009 after realizing the need for concentrated information management solutions for businesses across all industries. Her expertise includes liaising between key business groups and IT departments to manage digital assets, creating information strategies and performing systems analysis and design.