Someone asked a day or two ago about how to get involved in improving the city.
It is both simple and complex. Here are some guidelines to think about.
Its more philosophical than practical, but I think this is a better place to start.
Find a need, or find an area of interest.
What captures your attention? What would you like to see changed? This is a very vague place to start, but it's a good place. If you get this figured out, then start getting specific. You need to find your passion and work within that passion.
You can't do everything, and some people don't do anything because they cant do everything and can't decide which one. Ultimately it doesn't matter. If you find yourself in that situation, just arbitrarily pick one.
Find one thing you would like to change and make that your project. It needs to be realistic though. And specific. It may be something you can do as an individual, or you may need a group. Go from general idea to specific idea.
Talk about your passion with everyone. Ideas will come from that, and help will come from that. My music festival didn't start out as a music festival. It started out as a very different idea. It "evolved" from talking with people.
Once you figure out your passion, look around and see who is doing it. If there is a group doing that, then you can join them. Or maybe there is a group or club that does similar things.
You may need to start your own group. That goes back to talking with people about your passion.
Be open minded. There may be things you have not thought of. The more you think about your passion, and the more you talk about it, the more ideas will come. Some will work, some will not.
Its hard to know when to leave an idea behind and when to push ahead. Its a balance you have to find. Patience figures in there, as well as just being open to things you may not have thought of.
Like in sports, sometimes you have to let the play develop, let the game come to you, but at other times you have to be aggressive and make the play happen. Finding that balance is the key.
Be eager to fail.
Finding the balance between letting it go and pushing ahead is real important. Be willing to fail. The only way to know if it will work is to try it. Maybe it wont. If it doesn't, don't be discouraged. Ultimately over the long haul, you don't know what the result will be. The key is to see what you can learn from the failure.
Failure is a good thing. It could be that you just need to adjust your approach, or maybe its because your idea needs adjusting.
View failure as a learning experience. How will it help you with your passion?
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9 comments:
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Hope everyone takes your advice and makes it their goal for the 2009. I am really tired of seeing the same people volunteer over and over again. Their involvement is great but a handful can only do a handful of the work. New ideas are the lifeblood of any group and any community.
I really believe that this town can become a model for other small towns in Kansas and in the nation but we have to work to make it happen. For some the only work they want to do is complain. Complain but take action to make a change. Complacent people that realy don't want any change are an equal challenge because they just want things to stay as they are. Obviously, that can not happen either.
"I am really tired of seeing the same people volunteer over and over again. Their involvement is great but a handful can only do a handful of the work."
It's always that way. too bad. Thanks for the handful that do.
Good thread, jj. Not many wrote on this, but all did read it.
One of the best places to find out how to help are organizations like the American Legion, VFW, Ambucs, Lions, Soroptmists or the AC Chamber of Commerce.
There is also Safe Homes, The Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus, Methodist Men etc.
Yea lots of good organizations.
I think i was aiming at some self-discovery first.
There is probably an organization where you would fit.
Lions is always looking for new people. and all the others are too I guess.
Ive been in Lions a couple years. It is fun, and you get to meet come cool people.
Part of the problem is getting people to understand they are needed, valued, etc. Most people that don't get involved say they are "too busy" and opt to stay home and watch tv.
Life is fast paced and most of us would like to go home and "relax" but it is amazing how good it feels to have been involved in something that makes a difference.
Schools, the hospital and city committees need volunteers. There is a huge need all over the community and the key is just to convince people they can make a difference. Perhaps, the biggest challenge is just getting people to recognize that they have to do something besides complaining.
erhaps, the biggest challenge is just getting people to recognize that they have to do something besides complaining.
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Also, people don't realize that it can be fun, out doing something that will make a difference.
You do get something out of it, even as a volunteer. :)
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