community
Leadership!
It seems in these indecisive times, many people strongly encourage you to be politically correct in comments and actions, even to the point of “NOT” making a stand. No one can be wrong, everyone is right in some way. Being apathetic, not being a leader, not speaking up against wrongs, and just following the groove (path) that everyone else is in .. That’s fine.!?
This is completely opposite of what we need to do. Yes, we need to be polite, but people need to know where you stand. I remember a quote my teacher, Mr. Hamel, told me when I was in 5th grade class. “You must make a STAND on everything, or you will FALL for anything!”, he stated. I don’t remember the exact surrounding or reasoning for him bring this up, but it is even more prudent now, than it was then. A statement I use many times with clients is: “You want me to be compassionately honest, don’t you?”, In every case, they say “yes”, but sometimes are unprepared for an answer they don’t want to hear. The truth, is something that ultimately helps a person, organization, or group!
What does this have to do with economic or community development!” In short…It has to do with everything! It revolves around Leadership. Leadership is not how active you look when you speak… it is how you speak through your dedicated actions. Community development is born through perseverance to make things better, a driving passion to help people and your area, and the enduring power to withstand the storms of strife, which do occur, when making a stand.
Phillips County has had some great leaders in the past, which made a stand for community and economic development. Were all the ideas “perfect” …”No”. Is Phillips County better for the “stand” made at that time by those leaders? Some may ponder on this and never make a decision…”why”… Because they are wondering what the politically correct answer should be. Phillips county IS better off for most of the decisions made in the past by our forefathers, and if mistakes were made, it is up to us to rectify them.
The Discover Phillips County initiative, is in many ways making a stand. Leaders – citizens – groups, all saying “we can make a difference!”. They are making a stand in one area or another to better their community. Strangely enough, once you catch the “leadership bug”, it is contagious. When you make a stand for what is ..Good..Right… you are mentoring to someone in some way through your actions! Our youth learn this way, too. If a community is focused on the positive amid challenging times, our youth learn endurance and leadership.
These are just a few simple words for the general thought is much bigger, but I feel you get the larger picture. As local , active, leadership grows — so does your community and the development possibilities within!
JDH