Saturday, August 9, 2014

"Procrastination, Indecision, and Personal Greed"

Friends,

     If there is any doubt in your mind, these are the issues the Aldermen and Alderwoman are attacking with a vengeance and determination this year, 2014:

Water Treatment Plant/Sewer

Roads

Downtown Revitalization

Ordinances

Budget

        You are at the crossroads; most citizens are demanding immediate action; and you are heard loud and clear.  

We are committed and we will do it.  Guaranteed!

During a break in one of the Aldermen's workshops the question was asked:

"How did we get this way?"

Fair question; easy answers.

1.  Procrastination

      We like to wait. It’s comfortable. It’s also extremely relaxing to trust that “things will work out” and that life will “take care of itself.” That approach to life is extremely passive and very dependent on the X factors making things work. But more often than not, they don’t. 

      Septic tanks become old, expensive, and the county has rules and regulations.  Roads begin to crumble.  Businesses leave.  Ordinances are antiquated causing hate and discontent.  And the budget cannot be sustained nor meet the needs of the people on 12 cents. 

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." (Don Marquis)

And yesterday is gone along with dollar gas; milk; eggs; and a host of other things.  



2.  Indecision

     Indecision and delays are the parents of failure.  Goethe was spot on when he said, "Indecision brings its own delays.  And days are lost lamenting o'er lost days."

     To be the great village we are destined to be; 2 realities must be faced:  (a) we must stay up with the times and (b) it is time to grow-up.  

     Throughout the centuries there were people who took the first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision.  It is now our turn.  Indecision and putting it off a few more years will encourage and ensure failure.  

     Success happens the minute people take responsibility for what needs to be done instead of waiting on things to work out in their favor.  

3. Personal Greed

     How many times has this been heard, "Let them take care of the roads and sewers and stay out of my personal life.  It is not my concern.  I got mine, let them get theirs. I do not care about their children, grandchildren, or any other generation."

     Personal greed is the desire to gain personal advantage at the expense of another person.  
     Truth without question:  We are all in this together.  No man, woman, child, of family is an island onto itself.  What happens to one will happen to all. 
     As Dr. Seuss says:
I’m sorry to say so

but, sadly, it’s true

that Bang-ups

and Hang-ups

can happen to you.

And it will.  Guaranteed!


Conclusion

     In one of the Village Vision Committee planning sessions, a very, very respected citizen said,  "After a while, when you see so many things that can be done and nothing ever happens; you just throw up your hands and quit."

     It is decision time and you have a choice.  

     You can sit back and say, "Salado is going to collapse and I am going to sit back and watch it."

or

     You can seize this very moment.  Decide what you can do or dream you can do -- and do it.  And if you will -- well, here is the guarantee from a Dr who knows his stuff:


And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)  
Dr. Seuss




Very respectfully, Skip

No comments:

Post a Comment