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THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Moving beyond mediocrity - intentionally (Part 2) For the past two weeks, I’ve advocated that you spend time, per sonally and organizationally, in reflection. I’ve suggested you eval uate the results you are obtaining from the proce dures you are following, and consciously consider alterna tive actions that might yield better results. You might wonder if I fol low my own advice from these columns. You better believe it! I sat down one evening with my journal and started identifying opportunities for improvement in my life. In very short order, I was able to identify almost two dozen areas where I have inadvertently become comfortable with “good enough.” You see, we all have a built in mechanism that keeps us from going crazy! We work against current needs until we become tired or discouraged, and then we unknowingly begin to toler ate mediocrity. Unfortunately, when this occurs, it creeps up on us silently, “on little cat feet,” like the “Fog” in Carl Sandburg’s famous poem. Now this is not the same as the apostle Paul describ ing how he had learned to be content (Philippians 4:11- 13). Instead, this is where we have unwittingly set aside that responsibility of leader ship associated with inspir ing a shared vision of “what could be.” Also, this is not that por tion of the Serenity Prayer associated with “accepting the things I cannot change.” LAKE From page 1A the Department of Natural Resources) says there’ll be enough watershed water to fill it eventually.” State Senator Ross Tolleson said, “I’m glad we’ve got the dam complet GALLONS From page 1A pipes laid down in the early years of World War 11. A second accident came on Monday when construc tion workers broke through a service line near O’Neal Insurance Company, creat ing one small geyser, and then, after sealing that break off, creating another. Bill O’Neal, who was good natured about the incident, said his office had no water service for the morning, but REWARD From page 1A type of cutting instrument. Investigators are investi gating the case as a homi cide. It is the first murder of 2006. The city had only one in 2005, four in 2004 and PUBLIC NOTICE OF USDA FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENT IMPACT The USDA Rural Development had received an application for financial assistance form State Application Identifier Number GA 060612022. The specific element of the proposed action is the construction of a 64 unit “Elderly” multifamily housing complex located on Macon Road (Hwy. 41), Perry, Georgia. USDA Rural Development has assessed the potential environmental impacts of the proposed action and has determined it will have no significant adverse effects on the quality of human environment. Therefore, USDA Rural Devel opment will not prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for this proposed action. Any written comments regarding this decision should be provided within 15 days of this publication to: F. STONE WORKMAN State Director Stephens Federal Building 355 East Hancock Avenue, Stop 307 Athens, Georgia 30601-2708 Requests to review the USDA Rural Development Environmental Assessment, upon which the determination is based, or to receive a copy of it, should be directed to the above address. We’re talking now about hav ing the “courage to change the things I can” and having the “wisdom to know the dif ference.” Healthy leadership teams are aware of the tendency to lapse into tolerating “good enough.” They plan periodic, inten ti o n a 1 seeking nities for learning m ® nt 1L IS aISO help fuj f Qr an organiza- , Dennis Hooper Leaders Building Leaders dhooper2@juno.com tion to identify two items that are extremely beneficial in considering intentional improvement. First are the organization’s key results areas. I mentioned this last week, but I think it is worth repeating. Does everyone in the orga nization know how “success” is defined? That is, does everyone know what outcomes are desired, and how “improve ment” in those outcomes is measured? Further, does everyone know what the key meth odologies are that produce those outcomes? If you are not satisfied with the answers as you ask these questions in your orga nization, you have identified some places you can practice intentional improvement! The second item that should be in place to contrib ute to intentional improve- ed. The way I see it, the glass is half full.” Tolleson said that he expected that increased rain later in the year would begin the process of filling the 106- acre lake bed. Noting that it’s “up to Mother Nature,” Tolleson said. that had been corrected. The construction work is part of a major project of the Downtown Development Authority in cooperation with Perry United Methodist Church. Meeting Street, which forms a link between Carroll Street, Commerce Street and Main Street, is undergoing a major change. The street has been divid ed by a median. Now, the street adjacent to Perry United Methodist Church will become a parking area for the church, with traffic five in 2003. Anyone with information can contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 929-6911 or the Patrol Division at 929-1170. Tips can also be called in through Crime Stoppers at 742-2330 or 752-8356. ment is a clear articulation of the organization’s values. Because you occasionally lose experienced employ ees and hire new ones, it is easy over time to drift from desired behaviors. And even if the organiza tion’s values are clearly specified somewhere (like an employee manual or even posted in a conspicuous spot), sometimes the appro priate action in a given situ ation may not be obvious. I encourage leaders to spend some time helping their organizations “behav ioralize” their values. That is, imagine how dif ficult it is for new employees to learn the unwritten rules that exist in your workplace. How can you and the other experienced employees make adopting the “right” behav iors easier for that new per son? Develop a system for training new individuals and affirming them in the behaviors you desire in your organization. Use your strongest long term employees to provide examples and offer sugges tions on how to address awk ward or infrequently occur ring situations. Whatever culture exists in your organization, think about how you can build in a healthy impatience with “good enough.” Invoke the energies of your leaders, as well as every individual contributor, to think afresh about “what could be.” By building in frequent opportunities for intentional improvement, your organi zation will never become mired in mediocrity. “If it doesn’t rain, we’ve got a bigger problem than one empty lake.” He said that work woilld continue in the meantime on developing the park area with nature trails and other amenities, the state might build a well at the site at some later point. going both ways on the par allel street. This is part of an agree ment between the church and the DDA, which is obtaining some church owned land for beautification of Commerce Street in exchange for the Meeting Street land. 1. freasowtKNCJ. , ■/ ; j/b , V (%yM /\'V'% vH £ ; Recycle LOCAL w vc vLt , roiSH Journal/Ray Lightner Warner Robins Mayor Donald Walker presents a plaque to Mrs. Phillip Campbell and her family in honor of the Warner Robins American Little League naming one of the fields at Flint Field after the late Phillip Campbell. Campbell was very active in little league for decades. His grandson Josh Campbell is wearing his “Paw Paw’s" cham pionship hat for the presentation. LAND From page 1A included,” Walker said. The governor was on had when the park was ded icated in May after local businesses came together to pay off the debt service HCBOE lobbies for flexibility in Act By KRISTY WARREN Journal writer Tuesday’s Houston County Board of Education meeting revealed- a desire for more flexibility in implementing the federal program No Child Left Behind. , Quring dlSimeetmg,, Dr. Ruth' Oljflr; Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, presented a National School Board Resolution for which the board would like co-sponsor ship from Jack Kingston. The No Child Left Behind Improvements Act of 2006 “just allows flexibility in how it’s implemented,” 6 ' § *l§ 1 AjSpllfrr I US'V ■ -• V mtw s¥CM ® 'rtycuoe ► Go Karts, iScooters & pPirt Bikes Electric Guitar $ 59 00 Acoustic Guitar Adult $ 39 88 Child $ 24 88 Banjos $ 42 73 Shampoo- Lotion *|fsloo Household Cleaners 0 Cell phone accessories: Cases, Auto & Home Chargers and much, much more @ $1- each. Kitchenware, Clothes, Cleaning Supplies. TONS OF ITEMS! 79 Green St. ■ Warner Robins, GA 923-0002 (One Block From Hwy. 247) l HOURS: 10am - spm Mon-Sat on the field. The presentation was made at the council meet ing because Mrs. Phillip Campbell could not attend the dedication ceremony. She thanked Warner Robins American Little League for the dedication. explained O’Dell. If passed, Act 5709 would allow for adjustments including: permitting fewer students in a group to meet Annual Yearly Progress guidelines; does not require intermediate goals to increase in equal incre ments for all groups; allows for alternate approaches to measuring AYP and pro vides for alternate assess ments for students with disabilities. The Act would also allow for sanctions regarding the transfer options of low achieving groups. In addi tion, some schools would be exceptions in order to keep class sizes down and to pre s*st 3 Ih| ; THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2006 t 7ft<zt&ie&<L o rtyeax{<%cc<znt&i& iTwintS.et - $ 99 00 I <F.ull»S.et - $ ll9 OO I tQ.ueentS.et - $ 159 00 I fcgfc* " $ 229 00 The Campbell family was at Monday’s meeting for the presentation, including grandchildren. Grandson Josh Campbell, was wear ing his Paw Paw’s white “championship hat,” with all the pins on it for the ceremony. vent overcrowding. In response to the pre sentations, board member Dr. Charles Hill of District 7, said: “In total it is well thought out and is an issue that needs our full sup port.” O’Dell assured: “We want to meet these standards,” and that the resolution is a way of “trying to be fairer for students.” The resolution was approved by the board. People Pleasing! (We will delight you!) -75 fall 13* * f>7-8t77 36467 r Electric ® Guitar i 10 Amp ] % Amplifier fc $ 88 95 ■ 5A 100036487