By Jamie Coder, RT(R), MHA, CRA Being a Den Leader within the Leadership Institute’s Basic Track Program is a privilege when you meet 110 students and new leaders eager to learn. The journey begins at 8:00 am on Sunday morning at the AHRA Annual Conference. The Basic Track attendees assembled in the Juniper A conference room for a welcoming message from the 2018-2019 AHRA President, Bill Algee. They were given the criteria needed to meet Leadership Institute completion requirements. I then introduced myself as their Den Leader from the Annual Meeting Design Team, aka “Den Mother” for the week. Juniper A would be their conference room until Wednesday late afternoon. The air is different, the feeling is different, the passion is different, it is new, and it is refreshing. Do you remember that feeling? The feeling of your first promotion or your first presentation or the first time you took that big challenge and rocked it! Well this is the feeling that I got when I was within their presence. So while I was there to assist them with the course criteria, answer their questions, scan their badges, and help them better understand what AHRA is about, it is they who actually helped me. I want to thank each and every one of YOU (you know who you are), for your spirit, your participation, and your devotion. You inspired me to write this article. This is the first step for me in writing for AHRA.  Each of you encouraged me to put my fears behind me and submit this article, which I hope is the first of many. In conclusion, I also want to thank all of the mentors and program directors for allowing these wonderful people to participate in our Leadership Institute. If you attended on your own, then I thank you as well because flying solo at first, will give you the strength to fly higher with a team.  Watch out Radiology world, these leaders are stacked with information, inspiration, and a huge network to make them soar, and I for one am looking forward to hearing their stories and successes.

“You begin to fly when you let go of self-limiting beliefs and allow your mind and aspirations to rise to greater heights.” - Brian Tracy