No matter who you talk to in my city… Rochester, NY… people tell 
you…”Rochester’s just conservative…” and it concerns me that people have wired a mental pattern for conservatism that brags about its unwillingness to risk improvements.
Other cities with far less human and natural resources are surpassing
Lately though two voices rose up on the opposite side of this stand-still resignation, and neither seem to be intimidated by change resistors or by party politics. One said yes and the said no – but each took a risk that could begin to lead
I am the voice you hear cheering these two leaders on from the bleachers! Pass the megaphone quick to Mayor Bob Duffy and County Executive Maggie Brooks! Mayor Bob Duffy said no to an expensive, over-priced ferry that was losing money with every wave it broke…. Maggie Brooks said yes to raise taxes from business owners to help pay the extravagant budget deficit … that holds this great city locked in shackles.
Both took risks… one said yes and one said no… but both followed the positive and I’d have to add … unpopular way … to bring the city into new visions for greatness. Both leaders stood against powerful lobbying voices that kept Rochester back and now threaten to take them down – and both sought wisdom from more successful and yet often unheard… voices for change and growth.
Interestingly, just yesterday I read two columns that said, “What a great idea!” to the changes that we high criticized just a few weeks ago.
If you were to take a great risk to move business forward where you work … would you say “yes” or “no?” Could you follow a positive pathway past the critics who lash out at change and hold organizations back? Could you risk losing your own reputation for a greater vision and would you collaborate with thoughtful people who may not have been heard in past when the old way ruled? What do you think?
Comment Preview