Skip to main content

The Man with the Plan

So, I'm a planner.

Seriously. I am a professional planner. I plan things - specifically, I plan the direction the city I live in and work for is going to go.

This means a couple of things. First off, it means that I have a vision for the community. This vision is informed by many different things, including by my professional education and training, by experiences both personally and gleaned from others, by state and federal laws, and by what has happened here in the past. The most important aspect of this vision, however, is input from the community I am supposed to represent. If my vision is just that of myself, in a dictatorial kind of way, imposed without thought or regard to the needs, wants, and desires of those I serve, not only is the vision inaccurate, but it is doomed to failure - like a plane without wings, it will never get off the ground. As it says in Proverbs, where there is no vision, the people perish.

The next most important thing, though, is communication. I have the opportunity to share what I have in my heart and in my mind with the community. The effectiveness of this communication is critical to the success of the plan - of any plan - in the way that an engine is vital to the propulsion of the plane. Just as with the wings, if there is no engine a plane will never achieve the heights it is intended to reach. Similarly, if I am unable to talk about what needs to be done, what the future can, may, and should look like in our community, there is no possibility of success. Effective communication requires me to actively seek out opportunities to share what I've learned from the experiences I've had. I look for people to learn from and to share the vision I've developed of the future in the hopes that people will buy in to what we are trying to build.

It is frustrating, then, when people do not share the vision. I have a unique talent and ability to look into the future and see what COULD be, rather than focus on what currently IS. I have often encountered great opposition from people - many of whom should really know better - who simply cannot see what potential there is and will not adjust their vision according to what could be. This happens for many reasons, all of which are certainly valid. But partially it is my fault for not communicating my vision more clearly, or in not being more inspiring. Because that's what the world needs is an inspiring, and inspired, leader. Someone who is able to get people to believe in themselves and in the possibilities that exist, rather than focus on the dreary and mundane.

How else can we succeed? What else are we working for? What do we want out of life, if not to live it better and more fully realized?

So, the work goes on. I continue to refine my technique and try to make myself more effective. I do not seek for my own benefit per se. I've never been one to seek the spotlight and want others to give me glory or praise. That comes of its own accord, when merited, or not at all. Either way, my performance is not affected by that.There is a job to be done, and the task remains mine. I embrace the challenge.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Other Art

I'm not sure we appreciate photography as much as we do other art forms. Part of this comes from the reality that surrounds and permeates a photograph - it's very, very real, and the photographer strives for clarity and crispness in the representations. Perhaps this is why black and white images continue to be relevant - they strip away extraneous information (color) and leave us with something that is at once familiar and also non-existent - for nothing exists in black and white. Nothing. I also think that pictures are becoming too common-place... Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and while that's a very democratic thing (everyone can express themselves in a picture easily and readily, and can find an audience for these images, which are casually taken and casually viewed, and perhaps just as casually forgotten) I think that we embrace that casual attitude, and it spills over to all aspects of the media, making it impotent. So I read this article this morning: h...

Lucky!

So Tomorrow is Amie's birthday. The 12 th is Andy's. The 14 th is Alex's. And the 26 th is mom's. Happy birthday everyone. I recently found that a member of our ward has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer has a survivability rate of less than 5% and you never, ever kick it, even if you live. Once diagnosed, people are expected to live about six months. My wife and I were talking about this wonderful woman. There are very few (too few) people in this world who shine. Literally. This sister shines with a light that is perceptible and discernible . The world will literally be a darker place without her in it. Life is short, folks. Too short for hard feelings, too short for pain and misunderstanding. I love you all so much. Sorry this one is such a downer... I don't mean to be lugubrious on your birthdays... I consider myself lucky to be your brother. You have and continue to bless me and my family in many ways, for which I will be eternally gra...

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...