Vicki Anderson

Throughout history our fathers have worked to provide us a better place to grow up and live our lives than they had. I’m not sure we are going there today. It feels like we are stalled and going backward. Perhaps it is just a time of change when we are making a paradigm shift of what a better place looks like.

There are so many problems in the world that it is easy to think we are going backward by providing a worse place for our children. I don’t have a crystal ball, so unfortunately I don’t know whether what is taking place today will turn out to be better or worse. It depends on your vantage point.

The innovators of tomorrow often come from the necessities of today. They develop things we don’t know we will need, but will find we can’t do without. I wonder what will be developed because of the oil spill that will make this a better place. I wonder what will be developed as a result of the housing market crash that will make it a better place to live. I wonder what will be developed as a result of all the obesity that will enable us to live healthier lives.

Out of the ashes comes the phoenix to renew and rebuild. If we keep an eye out, we may see it, but I hope we recognize it and don’t shoot it thinking it is one more unnecessary spot on the horizon. It seems we are all too eager to find that easy fix in hopes of finding the better place.

“Vision without action is merely a dream.
Action without vision just passes the time.
Vision with action can change the world.”
Joel Barker

In our neighborhood last week we lost a lot of trees and limbs to some straight-line winds during a storm. In these turbulent times it can seem like we are also just willows in the wind—tossing with the next storm trying to keep our roots in the ground. Sometimes we are afraid to put out our branches for fear they will be broken off.

And yet, there are trees that go on to survive. I stopped to talk to a neighbor who had a willow tree severely damaged in the ice storm we had two winters ago. By the time they cut off all the branches that had broken, I wouldn’t have given you two cents for its survival. However, it has grown back and looks better than ever. We wondered if another tree that was severely damaged in last week’s storm will prosper as well.

The quote at the top of this article is relevant to the way we return to prosperity and productivity following difficult circumstances. We have to have a vision of what our businesses and our lives will look like after we recover. Just as a good tree service will prune the damaged tree properly for it to grow again; we must decide what we want our organizations to look like. Do you want to be a bigger stronger company or a smaller more agile company? Will you change your products or services depending on the demand? What kind of employees will help you achieve your vision?

Whether you are a department head or the CEO you have control over your vision. Most importantly, you, the leader, must make your vision known and take action to make it happen. There needs to be regular communication about the steps you are taking and how others can get involved to help. Empower people by giving them information and responsibility for action. Engage their commitment by rewarding accomplishment and weeding out non-producers. Support new thought leaders and encourage idea sharing.

I think good leaders help their organization grow and be resilient by being strategic about placement of resources. Make sure the resources support in the right places at the right times. Regular and frequent communication will help you know whether you are being successful at that. Like the tree that sprouts new branches, be on the lookout for new growth that needs to be supported. With nourishment, those limbs can become strong to help support the tree. Without nourishment, they are spindly and break off at the next storm. And, some branches should not be allowed to grow because they will sap the tree’s strength.

There is an old negative expression that goes, “Make like a tree and leave.” I suggest that it might become a good thing by saying, “Make like a tree and leaf.” Stimulate new growth systematically to achieve your vision and your future might be more secure by having the support it needs to weather the next storm.

In a commercial from the local Creek Nation Indians encouraging people to send back their census forms one of the actors asked, “What kind of an ancestor will you be?” Beyond being counted in the 2010 census, it goes to something I have talked about before, which is, “What legacy will you leave by being a leader?”

In 150 years people will look back at 2010 and speak of us as ancestors. They will talk about what we did today in our government, our companies, our churches, our communities, and our families. They may say we laid the groundwork for the positive future they now experience. Or, they may say that we were not able to accomplish much because…… Fill in the blank to all the reasons that pull us apart and keep us from working together.

America has always been known as a place you can be anything or do anything if you are willing to work hard enough. It’s incredible to me to think about what went on in the years leading up to 1776 that caused the colonists to put together a Constitution for freedom that still exists today as the model for democracy. It has been modified through the years, but its basic tenents remain.

So, as we head into the Easter weekend that signifies renewal and rebirth, I challenge you to think about the legacy you want to leave as ancestors to our future. Make a decision to lead wherever you are to build a future you can be proud of.

Do you ever think of something you “should” learn but you never really get around to doing it? Isn’t it easy to think things are impossible when it’s really just uncomfortable?

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard in the last few months that someone would like to know more about social networking because they just don’t understand it. Is that you? It’s me! Well, I have tried to stick my toes into the water little by little with the help of my daughter and a few friends, but I’m not convinced I do it very well. So, I have attended a couple webinars recently and I signed up for a comprehensive, hands-on social networking course offered by the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. Hopefully, I might find I’m doing some things right as well as learning what else I should do.

It is so hard to keep up with the latest as the world is changing so fast. Therefore, it’s important to use the tools we have efficiently. I don’t have time to do everything, so I have to figure out what will give me the most results for the least effort.

Whatever it is you need to learn, get started right away. You don’t want to be one of those “old people” who don’t understand what this world is coming to. Be part of the change now and it will be easier down the road.

With the reconstruction of our economy, I think an important question to ask is, “How much do we want or need?” This is in contrast to the question of “how extravagantly do we want to live?”

We have been through an era of bigger is better, but is that always the case? Some people have started small businesses after being laid off and are finding themselves happier. Many people have also downsized their homes, lifestyle, and cars in response to loss of income or retirement savings. While this has been painful, I have heard several people recently talking about making the changes permanent. Some business people have decided to keep their businesses smaller and easier to manage. Families are eating in more and finding ways to entertain at home. I heard a news story this morning about a lady who had started shopping at Walmart out of necessity, but has found that she likes shopping there because of the bargains. She said she didn’t think she would go back to the big brand stores.

It seems we might see more of a moderate approach to lifestyle yet I don’t think people are going to give up their upscale desires. I just think they will act on them less often. What are you seeing?