December 25, 2005

• TR - Reformer

  I am currently on break in South Carolina, and now have time to read.  The book I am working on right now is a book on Theodore Roosevelt, "The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt," by Edmund Morris.  This book is an outstanding portrait of an amazing man.  Earlier this year I read the sequel to this book called, "Theodore Rex," about when Teddy was President.  This book I am reading now is the run-up to his presidency.  This book is great, but dense.  It is like 800 pages, so be in for the long haul. 

  
  

  Here is what I am learning from the book:  There is a time for reform, and leaders make reform happen, not bureaucrats.  This is such an important principle.  Do you ever want to make change happen and you run into whatever system you are a part of?  Does the system ever push you back and try and slow change down by saying things like, "We have always done it this way,"  or, "We don't have the staff to make that happen."  I have, and it is challenging.  Teddy was great at making change happen.  Now, as you read through the book, you will find many people were not his biggest fans.  If you are going to be a change agent, there will be many - typically from the system you are trying to change - that will fight you tooth and nail as you try to make change happen.  That is ok, if you are doing it for the right reasons, and you have the right counsel supporting you - it can work out. 
  
  What is the fuel for this type of behavior?  Courage.  Plain and simple courage.  Teddy had unwavering courage.  Courage, as a friend of mine likes to say, is not the absence of fear, it is the absence of self.  How can you lose yourself today to help make change happen?  As I refocus my thoughts and reset for another year - I am going to be involved in three main areas of professional life:
  

  
  

  1)  My job as Director of Admissions & Recruitment at Bethel Seminary.

  
  

  This is my main task, obligation and I am going at it full force this coming year.  After 2.5 years of learning my job, building up credibility among my peers and staff, having tangible results, I can now launch into the next phase of what I want to do with my job.  I am really excited. 

  
  

  2)  My company, Tuleva Consulting. 

  
  

  More and more I am asked to help organizations function in a more efficient way both through staffing and systems.  I also help people on a one on one basis be more effective and have some life direction.  I also am able to teach some of this accumulating knowledge through mentoring networks and classes that I get to guest lecture in.  This is where I use a lot of my Gallup StrengthsFinder knowledge - and it is a blast. 

  
  

  3)  Coaching Junior Olympic and College Volleyball. 

  
  

  I am currently coaching 16 year old girl's volleyball with Minnesota Select.  This has been really fun, and we play our first matches in early January.  My girls are great, and fun to be around. 
  
  In the fall I play on coaching once again at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN.  This will be my second year, and we have some great recruits hopefully coming in.  That will also be a blast to be a part of. 
  

  
  

  This year I want to challenge you all to focus on doing a few things really well.  Try not to dabble randomly without making an impact - use what you have, or find something better to add on.  That is my challenge to you. 

  
  

  
  So, wherever I go, I will hope to change things for the better - TR is one of my life-mentors from a distance.  Courage is what he displayed, and I hope to do the same over this next year.  Thanks for being a part of my journey.  JVD

  • 9:12 am
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