Thought of the Week 2009-2-20
Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes.
-Peter F. Drucker
As I prepared for work today, I had a couple of thoughts that really encouraged me. First, I started thinking about my learning process and the fact that one of my life-values is learning. I plan to personally be a life long learner. So, no matter what stage I am at, I plan to always be a student of some sort. Over the past few years, I have found myself a student of:
1 – the cultures in our area; as I learned to reach further and know more people in my community and world.
2 – the current world socio-economic climate; as I traveled to a few new places.
3 – our government; as I spent time serving some of our leaders.
4 – my daughter; as she taught me more about being a Poppy.
5 – my church; as they taught me about community and caring. (Which, on a side note also taught me not to look at people as either liabilities or opportunities. I now see them as “friends and family!” And I attempt to NOT see people as objects or something I can “win” or “use.” …Enough with the manipulation and consumerism already. We have let it come into our relationships… Sorry, that’s another thought… I will take that one up another day… LOL).
This year, I plan to be a student of:
1 – finance; as I return to my studies.
2 – language; as I plan to relearn a couple of my languages I used to know.
3 – art; as I reawaken the creative person inside.
I encourage all of us to think through what our opportunities for learning are this year. I also challenge us to always be in a growth position. Remember, only dead things are not growing! I personally am in a state of LIVING; therefore, I am always in a state of growth and change! So, CHANGE AND GROWTH ARE GOOD; even when the growth includes a bit of pruning and pruning ALWAYS gives the stronger branches more room for GROWTH and FRUIT!
This current era and economy are not only causing a cleansing and a correction to the world we live in; bringing us back to a sustainable state of living, but it is also affording us opportunities for growth. The change that is taking place across the globe can either be seen as horribly awful or as a well needed shift to our paradigms and the catalyst we have needed in our societies for change! I encourage us to at this moment; to begin to recognize and realize the opportunities in our lives for future growth, to step through open doors, to embrace change creatively, to see the best opportunities around us and to LIVE!
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
-Calvin Coolidge
The last thing I wanted to write that I thought this morning on the way in to work was that one GREAT thing that I think is right in front of our faces as an organization is that should we weather this storm… Should we stand through the gales and the rains, being beaten down, ever changed by the affects of loss, grief, and pain and stay the course? Should we make it through the night; when the day dawns, I believe that we will be in a place much different from now.
We will be the ones left standing.
We will be the ones with integrity.
We will be able to look back at this year and say, “Do you remember 2008-2009? Now, that was a tough year!”
And when we speak to others about staying the course and being committed to a plan, our words will ring true. Those that come after us will hear the words we say with authority because we did not falter!
This morning, I am writing this email as an encouragement, as a pep-me-up. Guys, no matter your situation, no matter your trial, no matter the storm, stay the course. Learn from your experiences. Stand firm.
At the end of the storm, those left standing will not have a problem being seen since the crowd that used to hide them will be gone. Get ready for your future. If we can just stay the course, the future affords us the honor of saying we survived!
Today, YOU are a SURVIVOR! Today, YOU are living in the light of tomorrow!
Just a thought!
dh
Dustin Hedrick
Operations Manager