Often ideas for poems surface in my mind and before I get to writing it out they have sunk out of site again in the bog of my mind. I am not worried about this because like any good bog these ideas will re-surface again, often aged and preserved in a wonderfully weird way.

The great thing about democracy is that anyone can participate, whether you like it or not.

At a certain point as a leader you have to ask yourself if, in your circumstance, you want to be remembered as someone who built something or someone who tore something down.

Sometimes things need to be torn down…but only to allow something new to be built in its place. The tearing down of things for the sake of tearing them down or for savings is short-sighted.

Before anything is torn down leaders must ask some critical questions –

1. What was the vision that led to this being built in the first place?
2. Does this vision no longer apply?
3. Is there no longer any value to this vision?
4. What/who will this decision impact?
5. Is it a bad thing just because it was not my vision?

One of the easiest things in the world of leadership is to tear things down for the sake of saving money. One can always find a thing not to spend money on in a budget.

I have said it before and I will say it again – a wise person once told me “if you want to see the true heart and soul of an organization (or a family for that matter), if you want to see where it truly places its value – look at its budget and what it spend its money on.”

Saving money is not an investment, it is stuffing it into your mattress or, like Silas Marner, burying it beneath your floorboards. Saving money is not an expression of value…investing money to see it grow or create value – this is a real investment.

The benefits of investment can be measured in many different ways – does the investment grow dollars? Does the investment add value to and enrich people’s lives (often not measured in $$$)? Will the investment attract development and additional outside investment?

Ask any investment advisor worth their salt how they would respond to a client who says “I have no money to invest?“

“If you have money…you can invest. If you have $1…you can invest.”

Often times the difference between a leader and someone who simply comes in to slash and burn is seen in these moments of critical decision.

Interestingly this works the same way with people. True leaders invest in their people. They invest in training and equipping. They ensure people are built up and not torn down.

Organizations led by investment-oriented people tend to have higher morale and research shows that happy people push the ROI (Return on Investment) higher. People want to be a part of buidling something – not tearing it down or even maintaining.

What is your organization’s vision? The vision can say alot about whether you are a building organization or not. The vision will either inspire or depress. Having an inspiring vision is not enough however. How are you investing to actually achieve your vision?

As I said earlier – it is easy to be a destroyer – a destroyer of things, ideas, people, etc. The true hard work and reward rests with the builders.

 

2019 Financial Plan – Public Handout
For comparitive purposes a link to the 2018 Financial Plan is below –

Financial-Plan-2018-final

For years I covered politics in the eastern region of Ottawa as a political stringer for The Ottawa Citizen. I covered the election of Liberal MP John Manley who went on to become Deputy Prime Minister. I have since covered various political realms over the years for various newspapers.

I have also worked for decades in positions of leadership in the IT industry, the tourism industry and others.

Throughout this time and in these varied roles there has been one (of many) constants – leaders and organizations like to prematurely announce things.

Phrases like “just around the corner”, “we’re working on the last details”, and “I cannot say anything now but soon you’ll know…” etc.

In many cases these pre-announcements have to do with industrial or commercial development. The next big thing that creates insane exctiement.

Then, as you wait with bated breath days go by, then weeks, then months, then years and finally you realize it is never going to happen. Excuses run like water after the spring melt –

“Well they just about signed the deal when they were acquired by a larger company who walked away.”

“Oh their financing fell through.”

“It’s still in the works, just getting a few unforeseen details out of the way.”

Most often the response is silence and a strong hope people will forget.

The delayed announcement is not always what it appears to be. Often it appears to be the result of incompetence but there can be shrewder reasons behind it. Many times the announcement is meant to calm an eager populace or put off a results seeking council, manager or board. Quite often these announcements and “leaks” are simply meant to lend the appearance that “a lot of working is happening behind the scenes – just be patient.”

I cannot tell you how many times I have encountered organizations whose hopper is overflowing with opportunity but never convert to a single deal. Years of incredible promise with almost little to nothing to show.

It is like the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes. The leader parades around the community completely naked while being convinced he/she is covered in the most amazing and rich fabrics because his councillors and advisors have duped her/him.

Here is what I have learned – until the contract has a signature an announcement is nothing but hot air. Until the foundation is being poured and the tenant is occupying the space assume no one is actually moving in.

Public announcements, promises by staff and management to leadership of things to come – none of it is worth a cent.

Do not be fooled by constant announcements followed by reasonable excuses. They are simply designed to keep you docile and leave you with the impression that “hard work is happening behind the scenes” etc.

As a challenge look back over the past 10 years of your organization, department, community, or whatever and sift through all the promises and count the actual finsihed, successful results. For every 100 promises of that new business, or this new services etc. you would be lucky to find one that became a reality.

At the end of the day it is results that matter…everything else is air.

It’s the teeth,

they sink in

they never let go,

not till you stop;

you let them consume you

or you hunt them down,

grab hold of the fangs,

and pull them out

slowly

to the older lady sharing news that she is dying

with her young friend at the table next to me

what words are better than yours?

“Hold me accountable and don’t let me get all crying and that shit”

what feelings are better than yours, and whose courage greater?

you beautiful and balding in our stylish Starbucks talking about dividing assets with your beloved

so in the end it’s easier on everyone else;

may I care as much as you when I face my end.

I love you now… you did this, though we will never meet again;

now I’m off to my meeting and it seems so small.

may you ride glorious with the sun…go well but not gently…

at night
i pray for a light
to illuminate my sleep;
i pray for a star
to guide me in the deep
that i might find myself
washed upon the western shore
and not vanished to the chasm