Swifter, higher, stronger. (From the Editors).

When you first run an 8-minute mile break 90 in round of golf, you gain the positive reinforcement that--if you continue to work at it--you might be able to run a 7.5-minute mile or break 85.

That's the feeling many HR professionals should been joying today: A sense of accomplishment

That mindset is reflected in a series of articles appearing over several months in this magazine.

The first article in this month's cover package, "From HR to the Top" (p. 46), details the increasing value that top executives place on the HR function and discusses how HR professionals can make the most of this increasing swell of respect. The second article, "Five Who Have Made It" (p. 50), profiles five HR professionals who have capitalized on their knowledge and expertise in managing people to propel them to top-level executive positions such as CEO and COO. In particular, this second article shows that for talented and dedicated HR professionals who are willing to continuously develop their skills, the sky truly is the limit.

These and other recent and upcoming articles illustrate how the metamorphosis of HR is well under way, indeed, complete in many places:

* Most of the C-level executives featured in this month's cover package say that accepting rotational assignments outside the profession is an important way for HR professionals to develop new, complementary business skills. That's a subject we explored in our March cover story, "Putting HR in Rotation."

* One of those executives--Daniel Dressel, a COO with about 33 years of HR experience--says HR professionals shouldn't get stuck in corporate headquarters and should strive to get out in the field. That's a subject you can read more about in next month's issue.

* Another theme in this month's cover package is that HR professionals can reap great benefits from developing their financial skills. In fact, the first story cites a new study that discusses why HR and finance professionals should work more closely together. Senior Writer Steve Bates first wrote about that study in last month's "Executive Briefing" column. In a future issue, Bates will further explore the ways that HR and finance professionals can partner to their mutual benefit and that of the business.

There's no doubt that HR has come a long way. That's cause for celebration, but also for renewed dedication because new possibilities are suddenly conceivable, even if they aren't immediately within reach. Nowhere is that more true than in the offices of those who continue to push the evolution of the profession from its roots in "personnel administration" to its current and future role in managing "the business of people."