Newby: Perfect is the enemy of great
Huron Daily Tribune
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John Newby
Paul Arden summed it up best when he said, “Too many people spend too much time trying to perfect something before they actually do it. Instead of waiting for perfection, run with what you have, and fix it along the way”.
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed change, we have discussed how best to achieve transformation as well as how we must be willing to move quickly and decisively to enact change and transformation. An additional element that often hinders change and transformation is the expectation of perfection. When communities, businesses, and media companies embark on change, especially unknown change, they tend to measure their success based on perfection or how well they do as it relates to the original goals. Even worse, many get caught in the trap of seeking perfection and ignoring the greatness that has or is occurring right before them.
Newby: Communities can maximize their economic investment
John Newby, For the Tribune
April 27, 2021
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Tim Ferris once said, Focus on being productive instead of busy.
That is true in all walks of life. Being busy doesn t mean one is making progress, we must always be trying to work smarter. When a community discusses economic development, most tend to focus on the second word or development side of the phase at the expense of the leading word or economic side of the equation.
It is no secret community leaders are in a tough predicament when it comes to allocating resources such as human and financial capital. In most communities with increasing expenses, this balancing act gets more difficult each year. That being the case, it becomes even more vital each year they allot resources in such a way the community as a whole receives the greatest return on their investments both in the short term and in the long term.
Newby: Be the change you want to see
John Newby
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John Newby
The title of this week’s column is an often-seen quote by Mahatma Gandhi. I would like to add a few thoughts to this line of thinking.
It is said if we do the same things over and over again expecting different results, this is the definition of insanity. We can also add the wise words of William Glasser, who once said, “If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior”. Change is a topic many have written about, but few grasp the true importance of change and how it impacts our local communities, in many ways, both good ways and bad.
Newby: Truly-local vision needs incubation
John Newby, For the Tribune
March 9, 2021
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John Newby
Ray Goforth once said, “There are two types of people who will tell you that you cannot make a difference in this world: those who are afraid to try and those who are afraid you will succeed.”
When it comes to local community vision, this quote hits the nail on the head. Local communities are full of small-minded and poverty-minded leaders and influencers – you know the ones I am referring to, those afraid to think big and those fearing failure. I would suggest communities without big dreams and vision are only biding their time as irrelevance draws closer each day.