If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

Is your organization new?  Does it feel new and exciting?  Does it feel relevant?

Do you know why your group exists?  Do you serve a noble, special and necessary purpose?

Does your organization create buzz on campus or in your community?  Do people on the outside express an interest in what you’re doing?  Do you find yourself talking about your organization (in an excited, positive way) when you really should be focusing on something else?

As you look back at the past year, did your organization break new ground?  Did it rise to a challenge of some sort?  Did it respond to a new truth on your campus, or a new opportunity, or a new set of leaders?  Or, was it just more of the same old thing it’s been doing for years?

If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

Does your student organization give young leaders exciting new challenges?  Do people compete for leadership positions – eager to leave their mark?  Do you, as a leader, foster an environment where people are encouraged to try, to risk, to succeed brilliantly, or to fail incredibly?

Do people know how their good work today affects the organization 10 years from now? Do they accept help, draw in the ideas of others, and seek to share the credit?

Do you draw new members flush with new ideas and energy?  Do your meetings sometimes run long with all the “what if” talk?  Do people have passionate differences of opinion?

Do other organizations on campus come to you because partnering would be such a win for them?  Do your leaders brag about your organization in job interviews?  Would members pay more to be a member because the benefits so far outweigh the costs?

If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

Do your officers put in killer hours and get a rush from their jobs?  Is there a spirit that says you can do it even better next time?  Do members and other leaders feel a deep personal commitment to the success of your group?

If your group went away tomorrow, would people be upset?  Would your members stay together, work together, and build something new?  Or would they just go their separate ways?

Do you look at the year that passed and feel impressed? What did your organization build this year?  Did it end the year better than it started, or worse?  Did it end stronger, or weaker?  Did people create, maintain, or rip apart?

Would the actions of your members and leaders this year impress those who came before you?  Will they impress those who come after?

If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

People are more excited about student organizations that are growing, changing, and constantly reinventing themselves.  Members want to join a group where exciting work is being done and where they can get their hands dirty creating.  Where they can make a difference today with bold ideas.

People want you to lead them.  To give them room to try.  They want someone who says, “Yeah, sure, let’s give it a shot.” Not, “We tried that once and it didn’t work” or “I don’t think we can do that.”

Your members want to be inspired.  Your members want to be proud of their work. They want to be able to both show and tell their success in your group. They want to be recognized and applauded for what your group allows them to do.

If you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

You’re the leader. Get busy getting born.

“From the fool’s gold mouthpiece the hollow horn

Plays wasted words, proves to warn

That he not busy being born is busy dying.”

- Bob Dylan, “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)”, 1965