December 17th, 2015

     Just received copies of Iris's book, " Finding the Treasures Left Along the Trail - My Cherokee Heritage ", and are hopeful it will provide a closer understanding between our two cultures. We are experiencing a period of time where our leaders and the media seems to be intensifying concern and fear about people who are different. I truly believe this will exacerbate relationships not improve them. If we are going to provide an acceptable future for our next generations, we must begin to focus on the similarities we all share and build relationships based on sharing. I never thought I would see the day when an American political party would stand before the entire Nation and state that their leading goal for the next several years was to make the leadership of another American political party a failure. Hard to believe, but I watched the statement presented on national TV with my own eyes. How can we expect various public interests to come together to solve major complex issues?
     With the new year rapidly approaching, I decided I needed to offer some more specifics on how I believe we need to re-design our efforts to bring people together. I have mentioned before that a group of graduate students at MIT did a study in the 1960's on why so few solutions to major complex problems ever get implemented. The study found that no more than 15% of good solutions are ever implemented. It was also found that the recommended solutions were sound and the technical process used to identify these solutions was done properly. The failure was the result of not adequately involving the people or potentially effected interests. 
     Most decision makers, when they can not implement their proposed action, re-double their efforts in the technical process only to experience more failure. To become an implementation genius requires becoming an expert in working with a variety of people and having the wisdom to be able to identify your potentially effected interests. So, step one is to get out from behind the desk and visit with the true decision makers of the various interest groups in your area of influence. If you don't know who these people are, there is no way you will be an effective problem solver. It is your personal responsibility to know and be able to dialog with the true leaders of these interest groups that develops the trust required for you to be a competent and effective decision maker. This assignment can not be delegated!
     In future blogs I will expand on the next steps required for successful implementation of your proposed applications and projects.