---
title: "3 Lessons: Ben Martin, CAE"
id: "45014"
type: "post"
slug: "3-lessons-ben-martin-cae"
published_at: "2018-12-09T10:40:14+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:17:19+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/09/3-lessons-ben-martin-cae/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/09/3-lessons-ben-martin-cae.md"
excerpt: "Ben Martin, CAE, the executive director of The Review Society of Nashville, Tennessee, lives in the moment while looking ahead."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Learning"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "C-suite"
  - "Leadership"
  - "persona development"
  - "Trends"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "C-Level"
  - "Executive Team"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

[Home](https://associationsnow.com/)
 » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/)
 » 3 Lessons: Ben Martin, CAE

**Take a break.** There’s a nature trail that meanders along a stream less than 50 yards from my home office. As long as I’m home and the weather cooperates, I take two to three short walks along that trail daily to clear my head, brainstorm ideas with my partner, and discuss the day’s accomplishments and challenges. Taking “micro-vacations” helps to reset my creativity and productivity.

**Take a risk.** Some of the best decisions in my life were the riskiest moves I made. The pace of change in our world requires leaders to make bold decisions and seize opportunities before the competition. If you haven’t failed recently, you haven’t been trying hard enough. Don’t let fear drive your decision-making process. Really, what’s the worst that could happen?

**Take a peek.** What an amazing time it is to be alive. With all of the changes happening in culture, science, and technology, there are so many opportunities to embrace transformation and achieve breakthroughs in the professions and trades that associations serve. I make it a point to peek my head out from the day’s work and seek to understand what trends and changes are affecting my members and their ecosystem.

(Jeff Nelson)

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

Tags: [#C-suite](https://associationsnow.com/tag/c-suite/)
 [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/)
 [#persona development](https://associationsnow.com/tag/persona-development/)
 [#Trends](https://associationsnow.com/tag/trends/)

**Stay Informed**

[Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/)
, *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day.

## You Might Like

- [VideoIntroducing the Graham Report Short Intro V2December 16, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/16/introducing-the-graham-report-short-intro-v2/)
- [VideoIntroducing the Graham Report IntroDecember 16, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/12/16/introducing-the-graham-report-intro/)
- [VideoIntroducing the Graham ReportNovember 27, 2024](https://associationsnow.com/2024/11/27/introducing-the-graham-report/)
- [VideoThe Graham Report: New CEO Trends in 2024January 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/01/31/the-graham-report-new-ceo-trends-in-2024/)

## Comments

**Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/)

[Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2018%2F12%2F09%2F3-lessons-ben-martin-cae%2F%23comments)
 to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/)
!