In a recent blog post for Life, Well Run (an ICMA initiative), blog contributor Pam Weir, assistant to the manager, Goodyear, Arizona, reflects on her first five years in local government and shares some of the most important advice she has received during her time in local government. An excerpt of that post is below; the full post is available on the Life Well Run blog.

“One recent 'pinch me' moment happened in mid-July. I was given the opportunity to speak on a panel at the Arizona City/County Managers Association conference about my career development journey and becoming an emerging leader in the profession. To go from intern-attending-a-conference-for-the-first-time to a well-respected-association-member-and-conference-presenter in five years is a professional dream come true.

Then just last week, I had a second 'pinch me' moment. I met the first graduate student I will be formally mentoring. It’s yet another dream come true to be able to pass on what I have learned to help someone else discover and grow in the local government profession.”