Change

This week I got to see my friend who is in the cohort that is next up for graduation.  I've shared many of my text books with her, and this week I owed her my Moon text.  I was really happy to see her, and in many ways its been a fun part of my MBA getting together with her and another friend who is in the cohort behind her.  We swap stories on professors and share how the program is molding and changing with each class that comes through.  If I were to start the program now, I know it would be a very different experience than having been the first class to come through.  I'm sure that it is a stronger program now, but I wouldn't change the opportunity I had to help shape that first year of the program, and really... how it shaped me.

It wasn't long before we both identified that common thought after such a rigorous plight- What now, or What's next?  My "what's next" should be fairly obvious...

That's what 6.5 months of baby will do to ya...

Anywho... I have a hard time with "the same".  Up until today I called it a problem with contentment, but really I don't think that's what it is... Life is dynamic... to think we can keep some sense of the same, to me feels like a dillusion... a static process to something that is ever shaping.  Having a baby is a handful, and I know I don't know to full story of what I am getting myself into.  At the same time I have all these skills and abilities and passions that I've acquired over the last two years, and largely I've thrown myself into community involvment to feel challenged and growth in the areas that I'm most interested in.

The answer is not there yet, but seasons change... I'm changed and continue to change... and I know life as I know it is about to change.

Reflections on the lazy CEO

About a year ago I was sitting in LAX.  We had just finished our annual national park hiking trip in Yosemite.  While my husband and I were waiting for our flight I had a chance to gaze at the planes, the different people, and consider the concept of going places, and where am I going?  For the literalist, Austin, TX, but for the bit more creative, I knew my MBA graduation was now under a year away.  Where was I going to go?

I decided on the fly (insert ba-da-bum-ching for my pun) that someday I'll be a CEO, and so I better begin preparing myself as if that's really the track I am on.

My friend, Ben Haley, a fellow student in my cohort told me about an article his prior CEO had written.  I asked for the link in May, and have waited to read it for a time that I could really sit down and READ it.  So here I am in August, post graduation, and I finally have had a chance to read it for the first time.  The article is titled: The Lazy CEO. (For your convenience, I've provided the link here: http://texasceomagazine.com/tag/joel-trammel/).

Last Sunday, after leaving church, I contemplated Christian leadership.  There's the running joke in many churches that the right answer in Sunday School is always the first person to say "Jesus".  Through the school years and into adulthood I find this concept prevails.  In Sunday School you still find the people with the "right answers", and there's this obligation to "help out" the teacher by providing an answer, a fix, to the questions they pose to the class.  We're taught to be problem solvers, in a pretty direct, non facilitative way. Silence is awkwardness, and to the outgoing helpful student, you think you do a favor to all to close the silence with a nice pretty bow.  And the answer is "Jesus".

But Jesus and his leadership wasn't a pretty bow.  I loved how in the story about the Pharisees and writing in the sand that Jesus could have just called all of them out on the crap they've pulled as they attempted to stone a woman for her infidelity.  Yet he was directly subtle.  His response was empowering to dialogue.  He didn't GIVE the answer.  By how he engaged in dialogue (writing in the sand), he empowered each one to turn, drop the stone, and be a bit less knee jerk reactive.  It wasn't a pretty bow, a flat fix it answer... but talk about effective to the core.

And let's flash sideways (a LOST reference to any fellow fans) back to Joel Trammel's article on the "Lazy CEO".  There's again this idea of empowerment... of direct subtlety.  Joel does a great job of showing engagement beyond the fix it mentality prevalent in so many organizations today.  We're all taught to be problem solvers.  To focus on what I bring to the table.  We want to shine.  We want to be the one with all the answers.

For many Christian leaders, having all the answers means embodying the answers.  Joel focuses on employing the right answers, and then as CEO utilizing vision and proper context to fashion the proactive response.  This may come through a direct answer, but more often then not, there's an empowerment undertone that's directing the tide of culture and innovation.

There's still room for me to grow.  Sometimes more than I'd like to admit.  My MBA has done more for me than to feel equipped with pat answers.  I know there's a whole orchestrating to leadership that I'm much more aware of now. 

I look forward to the day and opportunity to serve as CEO, but for now, the best practice is subtle leadership directly from the position God has currently equipped me with.  Rather than fault find with systems or co-workers or be the one who has to shine or seek approval... there's a way to continue to challenge myself and my organization for better without the office usual suspects of gossip or complaint.  There are opportunities to encourage and empower those around me to achieve their best and gain a vision for what that means in each of their specialties.  I don't have to feel insecure or threatened by those that shine.  To have subtly played a role in their success is the greater achievement.

And the Post We've All Been Waiting for...

Graduation Day 8.4.2012

After two intensive years, the day has finally come- Graduation.

It's like after typing that sentence, I just feel done... like there's nothing more to say, or perhaps I just want to sit there, staring at those words to really soak it in. 

Of course it hasn't fully sunk in... after all we do have two more weeks of class to finish out our capstone presentations.  And, hearing from my other classmates we all still have guests in town, and I'll be the first to say between graduation parties and guests and other commitments, I haven't stopped running for 3 days straight.

That too, after determining to take a weeks vacation right before graduation.  Matt and I called it our Babymoon, and we enjoyed 7 days in beautiful Mexico.  It has always been important to me to find that work-life balance, and it was a great time to spend together away from the pressures of work, presentations and deadlines.  We swam with sea turtles, laid out in the sun, kayaked, rappelled, and he even zip lined.  All this to celebrate our monumental year where he graduated from Texas State as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and we found out we were pregnant and now my graduation.

We also celebrated with a party at our house.  Nearly 50 people packed into our 1600 sq ft house, and we had a desserts bar catered by my friend Paige Morgan of Paige's Bakehouse.  Since I missed the pinning ceremony at Concordia while I was in Mexico, I dedicated my pins at my party.  Pins went to my wonderful husband, to those who provided me scholarships and then to my mentors, Teri Hill, Dr. Edna Rehbein and Scott Alarcon.  We then passed around cake pops to everyone, counted to three and everyone bit in to display a blue center- We're having a boy!!!

In a few closing posts I hope to evaluate more about what my MBA means to me, and even update how our capstone presentations go.  For now, I'm just going to focus on finishing strong, and trying to keep my 4.0 in these last two weeks, when my mind is thinking about preparing for our little one, and trying to not fully check out... seeing as how I've already walked and all.  Guess all that's left to do is as the title of one our texts said- to Walk Out and Walk On.

An MBA that is Music to my Ears

This week we had special guest, Dr. Matt Hinsley, Founder and Executive Director, Austin Classical Guitar Society visit our Entrepreneurship and Innovation class.  Matt began the class with what had to be one of the best starts we ever had... a personal concert in classical guitar fashion.

I really appreciated the perspective that Dr. Hinsley had to share, especially regarding his background.  When Dr. Hinsley was in undergraduate school he talked about the many times that people encouraged him to major in something other than classical guitar.  People were talking about how there isn't a viable future in the arts.  Dr. Hinsley then set out to do a dissertation focused on the disconnect between the sustainability of the arts and our culture.  He even pursued an accredited mentor to guide him through the dissertation, who was in full support, but surprised Matt when before he graduated.  This man pleaded that he not continue a career in the arts, and instead put his mind into law school.

After discussing his background, Dr. Hinsley shared about the connectivity of nonprofits in the arts and the value of connecting with community, youth, patrons, and donors.  Each of his perspectives embodied the heart of passion he shared for his service, and he did so in such a polished manner.  One can tell this man is well thought out, as he discussed even the nuances he instructs his staff to never begin an email without a salutation to ensure the value of the message is upheld.

What I took from the night is a glimpse, hopefully, down the road from my own journey.  I believe in pursuing life and the passions you are gifted with.  It would be easier in life to find a viable and sustainable career.  To go with what seems safest in the long term of building a resume and what is guaranteed to provide a sustainable financial future.  This is smart, and has its own rewards, but it's not what holds me.  I didn't pursue my MBA so I could just find the next bigger or better thing.  I did it so I would be well equipped to push the limits.

Dr. Hinsley is a great example of what goals I am aspiring to.  He's not just all heart and following his passions.  He's pursuing the best with smart and calculated moves.  He's strategically embracing and moving his passions forward and to a place where it betters the lives of youth, patrons, donors and the community.  So often it seems that the nonprofit world can contain great people with a passion to do something.  But how they do that something is everything.  We must be calculated.  We must be founded, well rooted, and smart about how we advance the mission of the disenfranchised.

Business school and theory are all great.  It's important to know.  What I appreciate about my experience here, is I'm learning how that all works within the systems we have.  These systems are flawed, often unpredictable.  They are within the confines of human socialization.  I'm thankful to have the educational experience that provides this balanced perspective.

The end is just the beginning

Graduation is now more than a light at the end of a long dark tunnel.  It's technically a month away from two days ago.  Now technically we have two weeks of class required after that, so there's 6 more weeks of MBA as we know it.

This has been a tremendous experience for me, and I am so thankful I decided to take on this additional challenge the last two years.  I've gained remarkable friends through the program, learned far beyond what I ever would have gained in the work place, and have the confidence to know what I can specifically bring to a team.  I've identified my strengths both personally and professionally, and I am eagerly looking for opportunities within my work and volunteering to utilize these skills.

I'm so glad for the experience, but also eager for it to come to a close.  I've been putting together agendas for my capstone team's meetings, and on this last one, I outlined what projects remained that we didn't have completed yet.  There were only like 4 projects left.  We put together a suggested timeline, and I'm hopeful that we will have absolutely everything ready to go and completed by Aug.3rd.

August 3rd is a special date for me... as I've mentioned in a prior post, there's a new development on the way for the Keeter's, due Christmas Day.  I've been very conscious about mentally finishing school out before I really dive into anything baby related.  We've not talked names, we haven't picked out nursery themes, we've been holding for Aug 3rd.  August 3rd is our second sonogram, and supposedly when we find out if we're having a son or daughter.  For me the 4th will not only mark graduation, and the following celebration, but it's when we will share with our families the sex of the baby.  For me this will be such a celebration.  It will be the marker of completing the race.  Of working to put both my husband and me through school, of finalizing a chapter of a successful run at an MBA (currently, still holding onto that 4.0), and the real marker of the beginning of Matt and my next chapter with starting a family.  I'll be learning how to balance who I am as an advocate for community and some one's momma. I'll get to balance thoughts from innovation and entrepreneurship to names and nurseries.  Really, as I finish out school, I get that feeling after you've finished packing and are just about to head out on a big trip.  The tools are there.  Everything's prepared- now it's time to go.  The journey's just beginning.

Grace for the Moment

Tomorrow's class includes a deliverable of a paper to discuss what's next after graduation.  I've been putting it off a little because I have to be honest and say, currently I really don't know.  Through my MBA program I've seen a real transition in my thought process.  I came in as a doer/ postitioner, looking for that next challenge that would lead to the next opportunity.  Throughout the last two years, I've been challenged by the idea, that what I do really flows out of who I am.   This statement I am about to make may not make sense to anybody else, but- who I am is a state of being present, rather that the eye that is always planted in the future.

Throughout my MBA, we've had incredible guest speakers.  The President of American Airlines, Founders of Golfsmith and Founders of Impact Austin.  In each of these sectors, the story that connects each of these individuals was that they were fully present and did what they were currently tasked with to the best of their abilities.  They didn't have their eye on the next promotion or what their company or organization would be in the distant future.  They sought the full allocation and utilization of their current resources.  And it was on that platform that they embraced "what's next".

This last week took a bit of an unexpected turn for me.  I had been serving in a voluntary position for a local organization, and at a recent board meeting I was presented next year's slate of officers.  It was to my surprise that the only name not listed was my own.  As quickly as a chairman can say "all in favor" and the crowd responds "Aye", my involvement was sealed.  I received several calls from other board members and upcoming leadership (I am blessed with such caring and supportive friends).   What appears to have occured is one group was tasked with the 3 year appointments, and another the 1 year appointments.  Individuals in both groups made the assumption that I was on the other's slate.

Immeditately, I was hurt, feeling my involvement or services were no longer needed, and I wasn't given a heads up as a courtesy.  However, over the weekend I've found grace and peace in where God is leading.  I sense change all around me, like David Crowder's song that talks about God's love like a hurricane.  There have been opporutnities recently presenting themselves, such as the conversation I recently had with a Supreme Court Justice.  I have to believe that God knows what I see as opportunities that I would find it near impossible to walk away from, and then help me release those so I can be present and ready in the moment for the next thing He brings to my journey.

So perhaps a starting place for my paper isn't what is in the future so much is taking the time to be present.  To fully invest in the opportunities life presents us, and in those "opportunities" to fully embrace and extend grace.  To know in the moment how we respond to pressure and awkward circumstance, so that in the future we can be better leaders.  To revere the times when life can provide pain or hurt, to know it only deepens our human experience and allows us to connect with others in ways we wouldn't have been able to previously.  And largely, to be at peace with the abiss of the future- the beautiful enigma, which we can try to shape and craft with our skills, tallents or labels of plans.  To sit and rest in the hurricane of what may be, finding grace for the moment.

Advice when it comes to Capstone

We're over half way through in our last semester, and I can't believe there are only 7 more weeks of this MBA journey.  My team is really close to completing our Capstone Deliverable, and I thought I might share some insight from our current perspective.

1.  Consider a Capstone team of atleast 4 members.
While 2 or 3 may do, you still have assignments for class in which you break into your groups for presentations and paper writing.  Smaller teams mean more work.

2.  Consider a Capstone project/deliverable that can flow with outcomes expected in the final semester.  A student from the current 6th semester should be able to provide you a syllabus.  Noting, items may change, it would help to determine what work you will already be expected to do, and see if you can match that up with your outcome or deliverables.

3.  Frontload your semester.  Currently the final semester is a 15 week Innvovation and Entrepreneurship class with 10 weeks of "capstone" sandwiching a 5 week leadership class.  While the Leadership class does have a paper due pretty much every week, it's important to continue working on your capstone project throughout this time.  Its important to manage 3 classes at once, even though only two are currently meeting.  We scheduled calls with our company every other week.  On call off weeks, we put together documents with their added input and documents for them to review for our next call.  This next week should be our final call, already, and we will be finalizing our Deliverable 3, which for our group is the third section break out of the Program Strategic Plan that we are creating.  All that will be left is compiling the paper from our three sections, and finalizing a presentation.

4.  Stay on top of it.  Our group has an established meeting time on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30, and we utilize WebEx to do something similar to a skype call while we can switch to eachother's screen and show documents and agendas.  We also utilize Google Docs for a timeline I set up at the beginning of the semester where I combined the syllabi togther for each class.  Column headings are the weeks of classes, and rows list each class, project mile markers, and each team member's names so they can update their schedules of when they are available or out of town.

5.  Don't get bogged down.  Currently the Capstone project is only a 2 hr credit.  I know this will be changing in the upcoming semesters to a 4 hour credit (sorry future cohorts), but for now, keep this realiziation.  For some companies, this really means they need more than what you can offer.  Keep your scope narrow, so you can do well with what you take on.

If you have any other questions, or are a student working on your Capstone and have additional ideas, please feel free to comment and add on!

New Developments

When I began my MBA I knew I was setting out to test my limits like never before.  I was already providing the single income for my husband and I and supporting him through grad school.  Taking on 6 hours additionally each semester seemed like a mountain... a surmountable challenge, but a challenge none the less.  I knew I was putting myself in the position of pressure cooker, but it's funny how the mind can rationalize things... When it came down to it, the "truth" I bought into was "you can do anything for two years". 

And you really do find, that the uncontrolled variable in life that you can always count on is that time continues.  No matter what you do, two years from now, you will be 2 years older, 2 years of life will have passed, assuming you're alive.  And here I stand, 22 months later.  What I've gained is invaluable, and I've SURVIVED!  I've almost done my two years.

Matt finished his grad program several weeks ago, and has nailed down a contract for this next year.  In August I'll graduate from this MBA Program, Matt will be salaried, and we can count on two incomes again, and the newest developments??? Well I wanted to test my limits once again, and I now find myself navigating papers and group projects with the constant threat of nausea, because our newest little development is due on Christmas Day!  I'll actually find out the sex of the baby the week after my graduation, and plan to do some type of graduation party/ gender reveal in one of the two weekends following graduation.

I'm not going to lie- This has been the biggest challenge through the whole program.  I've been sick for almost 6 weeks straight, and currently get sick 1-2 times a day.  It makes it hard to function at a basic level, and on top of that working through the capstone and all the assignments of this final semester is certainly challenging.  But hopefully, I can continue to give it my best shot, and who knows, I might just make it through this program with my 4.0 intact.

We're 7 weeks through the final 15 weeks.  Only 8 more weeks, and one of those is the Capstone Presentations.  So hard to believe this chapter, no, this book is coming to an end. 

Last night in Leadership-Making a Difference, we took turns looking back over the program and talked about the take aways.. why a personal leadership philosophy is important.  It was like a moment we could all look back and see the value in the journey.  It was a big surreal and really marked, for me, the beginning of the end.  But as I've often noted, one's ending is just another's beginning, and I am so excited about the new journey that lies before me.

Greater Things

Last Friday I had the fortune of presenting to the graduating class of Leadership Round Rock.  This incredible group of people banned together for the sake of others, and as a result, the Texas Baptist Children's Home's central kitchen was completely renovated, with donations totalling over $65,000.

As soon as I arrived at the dinner, I strategically found a chair (nearest to the bathroom, if I'm being honest), and little did I know, it was the head table and I sat across from Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright.  Throughout the evening both Justice Wainwright and Mayor Alan McGraw talked of love for the community, and my heart began to grow with this new ache God has put in my heart for my community through my MBA program.  As it came closer to time for me to stand to this group for what was next in the program, I began to pray.  I wanted the words that I said to address the group to be words that were filled with gratitude.  That these astonishing individuals in the room would know to the fullest what would be the impact and beyond of their actions for our great community.

At the close of the night, I went to say goodbye to Justice Wainwright and thank him for his attendance. 

To be honest, he was someone who is going to leave such a lasting impression on me.  For God to have given him such honor, and the man chooses to embrace grace, humility and a witty sense of humor.  Its a great example to aspire to. 

As the clamor of goodbyes rolled around us, Justice Wainwright handed me his card and asked that I call him the next morning related to a commission focused on children and families as they relate to our justice system and cases of abuse and neglect.

I called, and we spoke.  He asked me to check out the website for this particular commission, and if I had interest, he asked me to consider following through with a letter to another of the Justices to pursue a role on that commission.

For now, it's a matter of prayer, but I can't help but see God's hand leading through my MBA to this very moment.  During our call Justice Wainwright discussed several items related to the current Foster Care and Adoptive Systems of Texas.  Thankfully, through my work in my MBA, I had already been doing policy briefings on the Foster Care Redesign, and was able and ready to share with the Justice.

Today, after picking up some lunch, and on my drive back to my office I was struck by a moment.  A moment to realize that at age 28, God is potentially opening some doors that carry the weight of responsibility beyond what one might even think of in a lifetime.  I remembered back to age 5 or 6 when I took God up on his offer to have plans for my little life, and that I would be ready for wherever He called. 

Two songs then came on- Casting Crown's new song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" and Chris Tomlin's "You're the God of this City."  A couple years ago, on my way to a Mayor's Prayer Breakfast, God gave me the second song to sing over my community.  To strongly believe that "greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done here"... it's as if God is whispering this greater plan to me, and I'm seeking my part.  Then the first song hit in... its a song that brings tears to my eyes each time I hear it, really taking aim at the line that so many Christians have drawn between "us" and "them".

We are all "them."

I thought again of even the chance to serve on this commission at a state level.  The children and families represented through this commission... they are us.  The chance to work hand in hand collaboratively with others from all different perspectives, beliefs and backgrounds is an incredible opportunity.  To rally in our diversity to have a great perspective and potentially a greater solution to the hurts and needs of our families... our children.

There is still much to pray about, but I'm just so thankful for the careful cultivation God has been doing through my education to embrace the greater things that are yet to come, and the greater things that are still to be done here.

Continuous Sustainable Innovation

This blur of a picture happens to be our guest speaker from Entrepreneurship and Innovation this week, Mr. Frank Paul, Co-Founder of Golfsmith.  (My phone's camera make a loud noise right as the picture took, which embarrassed me and thus- the blur).  He was tremendously warm and engaging... really seemed down to earth, which I had a whole new level of respect for after hearing his story about how he and his brother grew this business out of a home basement to what Golfsmith was in 2002 when they sold it.

He took the time to prepare notes and shared with us what it was like to grow a business, as well as some of the humorous stories that accompanied the journey.  It was nice to see a man of his stature take seriously imparting his wisdom to us as students.  Often times, not that it is wrong, speakers come in for a "fireside chat", and while I appreciate the candor that accompanies this style, there's also just something to a person who could do that, but taking anyways the time to show they value and prepared for the group.

One thing that really stood out to me about Mr. Paul was this constant grasp for innovation.  Going from selling your own club, to extending to new product materials like Graphite, to opening large stores when none existed before.  And that seemed to be so much of the case for Golfsmith, looking and seeing the opportunity that didn't seem to exist before.  Someone in the class relayed this idea to Steve Jobs, and how Apple also seemed to sense and create a demand in their own market.  Makes sense, but how do you do it?

Peter Drucker seems to fit right about here.  His ideas for innovation and entrepreneurship stretched beyond being your own business owner.  He was challenging the industries to go where they hadn't gone before.  To look for the unexpected.  To seek true innovation.

In my pre-grad school days, my psychology background would suggest that there is not an original thought, only new combinations of what has been relayed.  How does this fit in with innovation?  How do you maintain a working knowledge of your competitors, keep up, if not stay in front of them, and continually seek the "original thought"... the point of differentiation?

My minds flows to a thousand other questions- what does differentiation look like in nonprofit?  What is true innovation in nonprofit?  How do you stay innovative, when funders can initiatives direct the course of programming?  Are there ways to work with funders to do research on the needs of the community and challenge beyond collaboration- to innovation?

I may not have all the answers, but I feel like questions fit me better than answers anyway...

And with that statement, perhaps I answered my own question about Golfsmith's sustainable innovation... they weren't afraid of not having the answers, and took on the challenge of asking that next question.

Considering Consulting?

As mentioned in previous posts, I now find myself in the last semester of the MBA Program.  This week was week 3 of the final 15.

I got to class early .  A couple of groups were meeting in adjacent classrooms finalizing their presentations and I sat with my friend Michael and was joined by our friend Cathy briefly in our class room.  Kevin was practicing with his group, but for a moment it was just us- the original group from the first two semesters.  I reminisced a little- thinking about those early days of group meetings.  How I was much more timid those days about what this whole going back to school thing is all about.  Later in the night I laughed when one of my current group members jokingly and lovingly referred to me as "boss".  (There's a first for everything)! 

This semester, each team had to declare a project manager.  Since our capstone project is related to nonprofit work, the team unanimously nominated me, and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to put into practice what I've learned.  Course this team doesn't make it hard.  I've got a team that just seems to ooze excellence, and I really consider it an honor to be partnered this final semester with them.

I feel this week our Capstone project is going to finally gain some traction and momentum.  Today I will provide our clients with an agenda and prospectus to review at our luncheon on Thursday.  Our outcome of the projected will be a tailored strategic plan for one of Easter Seal's of Houston's newest programs- Bridging Apps. (http://www.bridgingapps.org/).  The website serves as a portal for educational apps that can be used for children and people with special needs.  The program is a merger from two sets of founders and our hope is that our work will provide them with a strong and shared foundation for the road ahead.

I'm enjoying the opportunity to serve in a "consultant's role", and after having read A Consultant's Calling, I wonder more about the pace and lifestyle to pull something like this off for multiple clients.  I have the benefit of working for a family of nonprofits, and wonder if these skills I've developed could be utilized in a professional way here in my own backyard.  I came into my MBA program wanting to help nonprofits utilize these business skills to serve more with less.  Knowing what I know now, and heading into my second opportunity to work for a client building a strategic plan, I see that I will have the ability and know how to do this in practice.  I'm really happy about what this means for my future, even though God's still not quite shown me what that looks like.  I guess all one can do is stay tuned...

Community Engagement

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Leadership's Calling, and today I got my first look at the article I was interviewed for electronically.  Its a great article about City Council elections in Round Rock and specifically about the uncontested races. 

http://impactnews.com/articles/council-races-uncontested-for-third-election-in-a-row

For the City to put on an election it turns an expense of between $20,000-$40,000... can't remember specifically what, but a substantial amount of money.  The reasons for the uncontested races range from a good ole boy's network, or just a general engagement in the current community, to happiness with the current job done, or another could argue voter apathy.  I haven't made up my mind as to why not more are running for elected positions, but I am passionate about an engaged community.  For me its beyond who is turning out to run, but its about those who even feel in tune to vote.  Former Mayor Nyle Maxwell mentioned that its when people are unsatisfied that you have the major issues and everyone turns out.  I think its just out of the love of a community that everyone would turn out, so this community truly would be reflective of them.

For me, this is about an identity.  How do we get over 100,000 people to get to know the influencers, to know the issues and know our history so we know together where we are going.  I'm not saying that if everyone just knew where we had been we'd all be of one accord, but even descent is more attuned and engaged than the apathetic community member.  I'm not saying this is necessarily the nonvoter's issue.  I own this and say how do we reach out? How do we connect?  How does this community retain roots, but grow to become all its capable of?

I'm really interested in this from the grassroots perspective, because when everything is a volunteer commitment, you see true leadership and engagement.  There's no contract dictating one's allegiance or loyalty.  If the community really can come together rallied by non appointed officials, I think you get to see really what a full community is made of, and not just the talents and scope of a select few.

Please don't get me wrong.  I see value in our elected officials.  I am proud that many who currently serve, and hopefully serve in the next 10 years or so, are my friends.  It takes the Nancy Rabb's who have never run for office along with the Alan McGraw's, Round Rock's Mayor, to make this community as great as it is.  And even though it is great, we must never settle or say "this is good enough".  Our community deserves better.  It deserves to be engaged. 

Once I get my MBA, I've got to figure out how I fit in all this to truly engage my community.

The Beginning of the End

I've been thinking for a week or so on my next post... what to write about... With Leadership's requirement of a weekly leadership reflection, I ended up feeling a little "all reflected out".  Since my last posting, we did wrap up the end of semester 5, and tonight we start the beginning of the end. 

Tonight's the first class of Semester 6... the last and final semester of the Concordia MBA.  I sometimes have a hard time believing that I'm really in that place that 5 semesters ago felt so far away. 21 months have passed, we are about to embark on the subjects of Entrepreneurship and our capstone projects.  Also, not to be forgotten, the final leadership class titled Making a Difference.

As we head into our first class, I was a little frustrated.  Again, before even having a class, we have over 100 pages of reading to do, and perhaps even a presentation to start in outlining a prospectus on our capstone project.  And then I remember, this is the last time I have to do this, and for me that took the edge off.

Actually, some of that reading was pretty interesting.  The Consultant's Calling got my brain spinning.  I love the author's perspective.  He works 70 days a year, focuses on living within his means, and focuses on the freedom he has with his time in life.  It was the first time in a business text where I felt this life value come through.  He admits that jealousy sometimes gets the best of him, and he envies those who make 3 times as much because they work 3 times as much, but when it comes back to his central beliefs, he can live on less so he has the time to live more on his own terms.

It sounds appealing, and I'm really looking forward to what I learn in class this semester to apply to my work currently.  I love innovation.  I love looking at the why's of the things we do.  I'm hoping this semester will really help me to take things to that next level.  We've got 15 weeks to see if that pans out, but as of going into my first class of the last semester I feel the beginning of the end is really where it's all just beginning.

Leadership's Calling

I received a call yesterday from my favorite community paper.  It was about 3/4ths of the way through the questions that I really realized I was being interviewed and that what I said might actually end up in print.  The questions focused on community leadership- had I ever considered running for city council?  What's stopped me from pursuing this type of leadership?  I'm pretty sure he asked me like 10 other questions, but my brain had kinda fried at that point... What an honor to be on the call list for an article like this... I was just so blown away that I didn't know what I even ended up saying.  I was a little nervous, so I followed the call by sending in my resume, head shot and elaborated on the only two questions I could remember.

What timing!  Right now I'm in the Leadership-Community class, and I've really been wrestling with my desire to build a better community, but how to do that.  I'll be honest, before I moved to Round Rock, there was just something about "elected positions" that just didn't appeal to me.  For one- what responsibility!  A city council of a few people are tasked with the common good of nearly 100,000 people.  Who willingly takes that on?!  I also have had fears that people who pursue those things are in it most of the time with ulterior motives.  Would they do the job if it was guaranteed that no one would know their name?  I've even balanced the value of authenticity and staying true to myself- given the pressure of the recognition these positions receive, can I ensure I'm living the authentic life?  And talk about spot light... I already feel the pressure of living a life Jesus would be reflected in... now you'd have people really looking to you for the example you should be.  And lastly, I know community need by working in nonprofit.  How could I justify raising money to get me into a position, when I know that money could be well used by another purpose?

Last fall I began meeting with my mentor, Scott Alarcon.  If I'm honest, there aren't many people that I "look up to", but the more I get to know him, the more I find him to be a wonderful mentor, authentic Christan, loving husband and family man, who seeks to do what he can to make an impact in his community.  I could go on and on about his character, and how it inspires me to want to be better. 

Widely known fact- Scott serves on the Georgetown Independent School District's school board.  And not just on it.. as the Head of the School Board.

Once every month, Scott and I get together for coffee or lunch.  As I've gotten to know him, I have come to understand how Scott embodies his role as family man, Christian, CEO and public servant... and none of that seems to go against one another.  I understand he works hard on the work/life balance, but through his leadership, I'm beginning to see through the cloud that's hung around my idea of "elected public servant".

Don't get me wrong, and don't expect this to begin some type of campaign for me.  I've always said I'm following the Lord where He leads.  Right now, that's being the best MBA student, the best Children At Heart Ministries' employee, the best wife, and best friend that I'm called to be.  As opportunities present themselves, I like to see how my skill set and talents can serve as a catalyst to better my community.  That's how Ascend got started.  But only the best laid plans are successful if I'm in the Lord's timing.  So its Him I wait on to find how He wants me to lead.  But its also a widely known fact that following the greatest servant who ever lives is probabyly going to take you down the path of serving.

Getting and MBA is kinda like driving the Texas Hill Country

There are two more weeks of semester 5.  I don't know where the time went, but this has to have been the fastest semester of the program by far.  I've enjoyed the material and the professors, and now is the time to finish strong.

This week, Team Awesome, as we refer to ourselves, provides a sustainability study on one of the group member's employers.  Being that we all experience CTX, and one of our members works there, we decided to focus on this organization for this semester long project.

It wasn't long before this study began to reflect the complex nature of the university system.  You have so many departments, and focus areas from bringing the students in, all the things they do while they're there, to what happens afterwards.  All this plus strategic planning, development of an endowment and then there's the whole industry analysis.  Even thinking about a leader's role in this type of organization makes my head spin.  I'll admit to feeling inadequate if I was given such a task.

Its been 21 months since this journey began.  Sometimes this journey's felt like a drive in the hill country.  There's been the ups of feeling called to leadership, and the downs of feeling there's so much further to go before I am who I really want to be.  There's been the winding and turning as I reach to incorporate new ideas and paradigms.  And here I stand- one semester shy of my MBA.  While there's further to go, I can see how far I've come.

We're wrapping up, not only figuratively in the program, but quite literally on the project before us.  There's been highs of determining our scope, lows of scheduling and the turns of a sick group member right before the presentation.  We'll meet again today to do a final walk through of the presentation, and for a moment, I'll just take this in, just like we do the scenes of wild flowers and bald eagle's nests in the hill country.  Knowing what I know now, and preparing myself for the future to someday be able to offer this as part of my skill set to help my community and my organization.

What's ahead

Perhaps it's personality... perhaps it's because I'm a first born... I find myself often times enjoying the role of creator, trail blazer, going where no (wo)man's gone before (don't knock me for my Star Trek reference).  Being in the first cohort to go through Concordia's MBA Program has been a great fit for me.  I really like the fact that you have no idea what next semester is going to be like.  There's no one who can really give you any pointers, heads up, or leading ideas as to whether you think you will or won't like a class.  More than the ability to make my own judgements, we really are interacting with a program to provide it's future shape. 

I have friends in Cohort 2 and 3.  It's fun to tell them my experience in a class, and then hear how the MBA is continuing to mold and change for each future class.  I even hear talks from administration about how the first year is going to have different classes for some incoming cohorts, to improve the path of what they may get out of the program.  Would I change my path? No. 

I think I was made for such a time as this- my contributions into the program mattered as much, if not more to me than what I would get out of the program.  Don't get me wrong- the education I have received has been huge for me.  I now have a sense of confidence I lacked before.  What the Concordia MBA means to me is the ability to see this time of growth for my education and beyond.  Its been a journey- an experience.  Either of these analogies reflect a two-way street.  For me, this was so much more than about letters, whether that be in a grade or in the credentials that will forever follow my name.  It was engagement.  I feel like, especially in these last two semesters I'm trying to get out of this program all that I can.  When it comes to projects- I'm engaging in ways that can make a difference to my future.  Its about the people I see, the work that lies before me, and the preparation for a future still unknown.

In the past couple of weeks I've had coffee with friends.  The question that seems to be coming up in each of these interactions always circles back around- Why the MBA? What's next?  While I ask myself the same questions, I have to remember what ever is ahead is labeled under "future".  What I do now is to prepare for what God holds there in the future.  What I must be responsible with is what's within my control, so currently- what's ahead is in God's hands... but I'll do my best to be prepared for whatever He has in store.

Sustainable Efficiency- A soon to be MBA's approach to the complexity of service

This past week the readings for Leadership-Community really challenged some thoughts I had carried into my MBA program with me.  I sought out my MBA largely to take a look at efficiencies in nonprofit work, because working for donors I wanted to be able to serve more with less resources, and really stretch the support of our donors to the greatest amount of work that could be done.

Last week I read segments from Walk Out Walk On.  The premise is that sometimes when most people say something is hopeless or can't be done, there are some who feel there is possibility.  When these people combine, great things happen.  The book took us to different places around the world.  The place that challenged me was Kafunda, Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe struggles with out of control inflation.  I believe it was at such a rate that the author wrote, if you were going to buy a beer, and have a second, you better buy both at the same time, because by the time you are done with the first, the second would double in price.

A lady with roots in Zimbabwe carved off 30 acres from her ranch and created the Kafunda Village.  You see, this area had been peppered with operations of efficiency by national development and relief agencies.  The results of the "efficiently grown grain" long term mean that all the region was eating was grain, malnutrition broke out,  and on top of that HIV and Aids was rampant,  and purchasing food or Rxs was a bit out of the question due to the rapid inflation.  The Kafunda Village gathered together and instead of being efficiency driven, they focused on resiliency.  They returned to the gardening practices of their grandparents and found sustainable farming.  They utilized outhouses to enrich the soil and began an orchard.  They utilized these skills and came up with nutritional supplements to help those struggling with Aids and HIV.

This week I just kept struggling with the fact that there are many nonprofits that do have room to grow in business skills and efficiencies, but how far do you push it to remain socially sustainable.  Its chemistry trying to create the right mix of social sustainability and efficiencies.  How does a leader determine what the right amount is?  How can you determine whether something looks great on paper now- but what are the long term ramifications? 

I wrote down on a small notebook piece of paper "sustainable efficiency."

Then my mind wandered, as it often does, about collaborations.  How do they play into sustainable efficiency?  Do the mixing and binding of missions create a stronger chord, or does it work like a woven tapestry, that if one falls out, the whole thing begins to become unwoven?

I was stretched by my paper from last week- thinking about collaboration.  I came up with a mental picture- the Master Plumber.  I thought of each agency, each mission as a pipe that  has a specific job- does a specific thing.  Sometimes it feels like nonprofits are just so consumed by that little piece of pipe.  So inwardly focused on general operations and "my service area".  Its so defined, and at the same time, the definition gives limits.  We must know and remain true to our missions.  We must be fiscally responsible.  The point I am trying to make is that if we know our mission as well as we should- couldn't we see how that mission fits easily with other like missions?  Couldn't we, as a master plumber, say "Hey- we do this really well.  You do that, but if we came in and plugged in right here within your services- well we either stop a leak or even expand services to further regions"...

I recently witnessed a proposal for collaboration that fell short.  An agency A approached agency B with an opportunity to provide services for their clients.  The services would help with the client's transition out of the programming, but really was just the next step beyond the program offering of Agency B.  This funding also would come with new reporting criteria and create some hiccups for the way things are done at Agency B- all for clients that were already seemingly successfully transitioning.  The collaboration fell outside of the current pipeline, and seems to be falling flat.

Yesterday as I was driving home from work, I had it on my mind, and thought- what have I learned from my MBA, that if I were in a place of decision making about this,  that I could decide if this would be a collaboration worth pursuing, and is it a sustainable efficiency?  I began to ask myself additional questions.
Agency B prepares its clients for independence.  Would this aid in a transition out of the program or would it foster the spirit of dependence?
What percentage of clients, upon leaving the program, would really need assistance in this way?
What percentage of clients remain in the program, because they lack this assistance?
How much time do some of these clients remain in the program just because they lack this piece?
Could the program extend?  Could case management and some services be offered still to these individuals if they transitioned early with this program?
Could the result be that we move individuals a little faster through the program, providing more opportunity for those on the wait list, and at the same time build the strength of services to program alumni?
Its a careful deliberation of trying to understand the story, why they do things the way they do, and the purposes for the kind of reporting they do and the kind of reporting they don't do.  How do they ensure quality of service, to the most they can, with a long history and many more years to provide this service?

This is long, and perhaps too much information... but its me- trying to understand how history, sustainability, efficiency, scope and nonprofits all fit together.  How do you honor each piece of the puzzle, and at the end honor the clients and the donors?  This is the complexity of service...

My rambling thoughts as I prepare to write my next paper...

This week was our first in the Leadership of Community class.  I loved the readings preparing up until the class.  Its challenging to even consider what is community and in the midst of diversity how does it exist.  Even greater is the question of how this community determines what is common values, common good and how do we get there... or any where...as a community?

This next week our deliverable is a 5-page paper.  We are to discuss five things we would change in the world and why?  I had an early sneak peek at the syllabus a couple weeks ago when the professor emailed us a copy, and I've been thinking about it off and on.  Nothings really coming to me clearly....  I'm thinking about what peeves me... but a paper on how windshield wipers drag across only a semi wet windshield just doesn't make the cut.  I also think about my passions...but right now in my development it feels a bit like nailing jello to the wall.  I think about terms or themes that have been behind my passions or even reasons for coming back to school... the word that comes to mind is "empowering".

If I think back about my experience in helping to develop Ascend, the Round Rock Chamber's Young Professional Development Program, I love how what's become of it is a program that engages young people to responsibly engage in the community to move it forward and address current challenges, while the result is young people who are empowered to leave their imprint.  Each person in the class has such unique talents and passions.  In a way, this class helps me to extend beyond myself to the betterment of my, now friends, and feel committed to their success and rejoice with them when they take a step forward in their personal goals.

So this is the result, but if I'm looking for fodder for my paper, what was the kindling that allowed this program to spark?

In starting the class, we revisited our top 5 strengths as identified in our first leadership class some 18 months ago.  My strengths are Positivity, Includer, WOO (Winning Others Over), Arranger, and Communication.  In class we discussed each other's growth, but the trait that always seems to be a trend in conversation is the Woo'ers.  Some people speak of how they like this trait, some wish they had it, or are just thankful for having friends that have it.  Some plainly speak of how they can't stand some people with it.  No matter the gamut, my friends in the class have labeled me as the class' WOO poster child.

Some Woo'ers give us the reputation of those kids that ran for class council.  Postering their name everywhere and making conversation for the illusion of friends.  I think many in the class feel uncomfortable when they are put into a position where they are forced to demonstrate this trait.  Some feel overwhelmed in the presence of an unleashed woo'er.

The spring of my WOO well really stems from my other tendencies... I'm an includer.  I know what its like to walk into a room of people I don't know and see only the backs of people buried in conversations of comfort.  Hospitality was a key value for me growing up, and my positivity wants to ensure that when someone in the room does find themselves alone in a room full of people, that they have an encounter that leaves them feeling welcomed, loved, and empowered, even if I'll never see the person again.  Plus, its just easier to make it all about someone else.  When my being "friendly" is about how I make someone else feel, its alot easier to "WOO".

ALL this to say... when I helped create Ascend- it was because I didn't see a way to engage young people.  I saw a community on the verge of succession, with my arranger strength, I wanted to create a system to help cultivate proven talent in future leaders.

So perhaps in identifying the five things I want to change I don't have to throw a dart towards the bulls eye of what draws my greatest impassioned response, but really I should look to my strengths and determine where I can utilize these again to empower my community.

One of the main reasons I went back for my MBA was to strengthen business skills that would empower efficiencies in nonprofits.  Perhaps there are 5 things I would like to change in nonprofits or the nonprofit community that I think would enable greater service outcomes.

So here's a stab

1) Nonprofit Advocacy
     How do we engage the local business community and citizens to make the "for benefit" sector relevant to them?
2) Nonprofit Education
     Nonprofits obviously don't operate under traditional corporate culture.  The general public should be engaged in how there are differences, and brought in on the conversation of where these must remain to maintain the social sustainable features, and where their talents may be key to taking their services to a new level. 
3) Nonprofit Engagement
     How do we make it easier for people to align their passions with the services provided in their community?  How do we streamline the pipeline for someone to identify where they want to make an impact and how they can do that in a region?
4) Nonprofit Program Efficiency
    Nonprofits have focused so much on "The Ask".  How it's packaged, how its presented...  Dollars are invested with companies that offer services to help them on the development (financial resources) side  With increased financial competition,  eventually it won't be the request that can be improved, and nonprofits will have no option but to demonstrate how a donor's dollar really does provide a greater ROI, and that means identifiable outcomes and greater program efficiency.
5) Nonprofit Community
     Expanding the traditional views of who is my community and engaging collaboration in new creative ways.  Many nonprofits are so inwardly focused, or even focused on a specific geographic region.  Their lack of expansion or collaboration increase duplication of services, and an even greater strain on limited financial resources.  Nonprofits are going to need to know their own game in an even better light... so that they can expand beyond their basic services to meet emerging needs and know what they can bring to the collaboration table.  Just as we each serve as an individual pipeline to meet community needs, we'll need to have the vision of a master plumber to know how we can connect to the greater nonprofit community to serve more with less.

Yeah.. I guess that will get me started...

:)

Full Circle

Time is absolutely flying when it comes to where we are now in the MBA Program.  This week is Spring Break, which would be a little more fun if not accompanied with a 40 hour work week.  All the same, the week break from homework is welcomed, and I think I will assume the position of couch potato to celebrate my night not in class.

We're 2/3rds of the way through the 5th semester.  Even at that I stumble and still want to write 4th.  It's hard to believe 10 weeks has already gone by, and really to me, it has only felt like 4 or 5.  Our 10 week class on Business, Society and Public Policy is now concluded.  and I have to say I really enjoyed the class.  We had the opportunity to draft a Policy Briefing, which I used to help me become more informed on policy currently staring down our STARRY agency when it comes to the State's redesign of the foster care system.  We also had the opportunity to either expand this topic into a full blown research paper or to research something new.  While it would have been a bit of an easier road to expand on an already put together paper, I wanted to stretch myself and really do some research on a topic I find fascinating.  I researched the L3C designation and the possible establishment of a fourth sector, known as for benefit.  My references weren't as clean as the briefing, but I gave myself the opportunity to expand my horizon and really learn about something I find interesting.  We haven't gotten our grades back, so I'm hopeful this decision doesn't negatively impact my GPA.

Next week we start our third Leadership class.  This one focuses on community dynamics and I'm getting a jump start on the reading, and LOVING IT!  Maybe tonight, as I "couch potato" my evening, perhaps I can continue through the chapters and that way I can enjoy the class, instead of just trying to make it through the readings.

I think I also see a shift in our Complex Decision Making class.  The case studies are coming to a close, and I'm hopeful this means we get a bit of a breather before our final project- a sustainability study!  My team is actually focusing on Concordia University, and the Vice Provost took time from his busy schedule to meet with us and share his perspective on the school.  He was very engaging, and even offered to meet with us again to help answer additional questions.

As we wrapped up class last week, Dr. Brazier clarified expectations in Semester 6.  Its the first time I heard the word Graduation, and I felt an element of reality that the word never carried before.  Am I tired of case studies? No doubt.  But what will it really be like when I don't have class to look forward to each week?  This has been such a fun opportunity to push myself for growth, and dream bigger dreams. I've seen myself in a new light.  I've grown confidence and new skill sets.  I have some fear and hope these will be sustained beyond this point of graduation.

Its been a long time since I've looked back to some of my earliest posts, but two concepts stand out from the flow of my last paragraph.  I remember in my earlier writings trying to identify what I wanted to get out of my MBA- and without an intentional plant, I have just identified those two things as a result of my work here-  confidence and new skill sets. Both have come as a result of classroom interactions, a reflection on the quality of students that surround me, projects, group projects, papers, and lots and lots of reading.  It's been hard work, but unbelievably I have accomplished the goals I originally set out to do.

Another sign that this journey's almost come full circle...

This one's for you

A large factor in my decision to go back to school was the experience I saw through my Dad.  Back when he was about my age, a college degree was that one step above and beyond.  It wasn't expected like it is today.  As we all know, the economy tanked about 4 years ago, and about 3 years ago, the home builder my dad served for more than 15 years went under.  My Dad found himself unemployed for more than two years, as everyone had moved to electronic applications, and now his lack of a college degree was an immediate barrier in the hiring process.  He determined to retool and retrain, and after taking some prerequisite courses, he earned the points and was accepted into Nursing School.

The past two semesters he's shown such commitment.  Now in his upper fifties, he has pulled all nighters and studied more intently than I ever have in my entire education.  Unfortunately, he's had a few more obstacles than his fellow students in the fact that about 7-8 years ago he began to become a medical mystery.  Currently, he struggles with chronic pain, and the stress of school has exacerbated it to such an extent that he can get little relief.  On Sunday, he and my mom made the painful decision to withdraw from the nursing program.  After several semesters of being able to pull A's and B's in some of education's toughest classes, he just has to stop.

Yesterday, on the day that my dad was withdrawing from classes, I went to the dedication of the area's newest educational institution- South University.  My friend, Dr. Marie Neal is the president.  State Rep. Larry Gonzales gave the key note and talked about the value of education, what it meant for his family, as his grandparents stressed it's importance after having little education.  I found my eyes welling up with tears as the moment set in.  My dad and I both had set out on this educational road for the opportunity that the future could bring.  Here in this moment of a brand new school's dedication and all the promise it bodes for future students- my dad's dreams were coming to an end.

While not everyone is meant to or is pursuing an MBA or Masters, I think many consider it, or assume it's something they can do... once they get settled in their job... or once the kids are in school... or once the kids are gone.  These serve as barriers to many I know.  But right now, all I wish is that my dad could have that title, so he could land a job, and as this economy recovers, so could my parents.  And in the future, everyone may have an advanced degree.  So I'm not promised tomorrow, but I have the opportunity and ability now to invest in that future.

This last semester is for you, Dad.

The Age of the Unthinkable

One thing that I think an MBA either requires or teaches is flexibility.  To make time for special guests to come to class in March, Dr. Gillis is giving her two hours to Dr. Brazier, and so that means that Dr. Brazier is giving her two hours to Dr. Gillis this next week.  This works to my advantage in the fact that the research paper due for Brazier is getting pushed back a week, and a case study for Dr. Gillis is getting cut.  Unfortunately, it also means that the 10 chapter book, The Age of the Unthinkable, will not be spread over 2 weeks, but now must be read by next week, including the case study.

Wednesdays I've kinda carved out for me.  Matt plays basketball with the guys, and I usually catch up on my TV shows and veg, since weekends are usually filled with homework.  This week, that plan won't work, so last night I got into the book and began to read.

As I read, the book really resonated with me and a scripture came to mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 For He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.

The book starts with a shocker, as the author, a world covering journalist has coffee with a member from a "terrorist organization".  While he doesn't agree with the end goal, he talks about radical groups who learn to think outside of the system for change.  He talked about rebellions and how those rebels lacked fear.  They aimed for change.

I notice I'm driven for constant improvement. Contentment is not a natural gifting of mine.  There's always a higher mark to hit, greater refinement, and sometimes this means challenging  the status quo.  And it doesn't scare me to do this, to ask the questions why things are the way they are.  If there's another system, another way that would greater serve the mission and purpose, why not try it?  I recognize there's a balance in change for change sake and really seeing the opportunity that lies out there, but I challenge myself to not fear seeking the opportunity that may be a game changer.

The author also brings up how we can deal with an intrinsically complex world.  I think sometimes we fail to grasp our hands around a problem, because we know what we don't know.  I'm in the second chapter, so only a fifth of the way through this, but I'll be interested to see the author's solution.  I often feel so overwhelmed with the infinite, but know there are ways of making impact- so how do we do that?  How we do we know what little of the universe we know or experience and demonstrate the lack of fear, and the resolution to exert power as needed, love when undeserved, and a sound mind when the dynamics are constantly changing.  I have an idea, but before I give the expected answer, I'll hear this author out.

Capstone Step One: Identifying the Deliverable

After our group had our meeting with Joel, I emailed the Director of the MBA Program about where we felt we were at with the proposed capstone project.  She suggested we meet briefly after class to talk details.  So last night, as students filtered out of the classroom we shared about the lunch meeting with Joel, and how we'd love to begin to formalize a plan for him.  We shared how we saw some opportunities, different paths this new project could take, but in order for it really to get off the ground, we need a plan.

I can't remember specifically what I shared about last semester, but one of the deliverables of the economics, marketing and competitive strategy class was to assemble a strategic plan for a start up or business who didn't have a plan.  As it turned out 2 of the 4 groups did established companies, one a newly founded company one of the group members was behind, and then we did the project for a friend of mine who was retiring from Children At Heart Ministries and was transitioning to a career in international exporting.  I can't speak for the breadth of the project for the other groups, but our group had several hurdles to climb.

1. Identifying a product- They wanted to export, but didn't know what specifically
2. Surveying the market- So we looked at the country of Morocco, and what were their needs in order to make some recommendations based on trends we could see from our research
3. Financials- what financials?  The company was so new, we were trying to determine operational costs for the newly founded company.  Without a product, this was a bridge that was a little hard to cross...  We knew who the key players were, so could estimate some of the operational end, but had to base our financials off of what the country's industry averages were in our product of recommendation, and then based off of a 1% market share, what a potential income stream could look like.  I wouldn't base a company off of what we had come up with, but it was a starting place.
4. Getting the product to market- The company had done some research and had a couple of options for a distribution chain.  They did have someone on the ground in Morocco, and the country's trade agreements made for a good international office.  We made recommendations for their ground person, and determined a process for going to market, but again this was off our product recommendation, and not necessarily for their actual product.  So we tried to keep it at a high level that would be easily replicable for their choice of product.
5. Growth and Opportunity- It was hard to determine a starting place, so it was even more difficult to know what this would morph into in the next 3-5 years.  From our research, there was alot of opportunity as the country establishes and grows in their infrastructure.  We provided a current and future organizational chart, but again, everything remained at a high and flexible level to allow for shifts in development.

After our first capstone meeting,  I'm seeing many similarities to what we did for the Global Trading Compnay.  And this seems like an excellent opportunity to refine our skills in building a business plan and a strategic plan.  We too can help in honing in on the product and what it exactly is.  Also, we need to do some research, and ensure we aren't duplicating a service.  We ned to determine if this is a program that can be operated through a nationally recognized nonprofit, or if it needs the independence of it's own designation, in which then to launch it could sign an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with a National Nonprofit.  After this semester in Complex Decision Making I have a greater understanding of sustainability, so we need to make sure, whether this is a program or its own business entity, that it's a sustainable model and has the financials to back it.  Once these critical issues are determined, then we can really determine market scope and how to emerge in that market.  Which this brings us to - what is our sustainable growth pattern?  Is this something that we grow local and eventually has the opportunity to grow to the national level?

Needless to say over 12-15 weeks this will be a great, encompassing project.  If we also see the need for this to be a nonprofit or LLC (or future L3C) then perhaps we can help walk through that process, which would be a great experience to know how to do, before we actually launch anything ourselves as students.  IUt also has the potential for future growth, and perhaps another MBA Capstone group will come along behind us, and take it to the next level.

When I think about the outcomes or my expectations of my MBA when I started this whole thing, I think one thing I really wanted was the ability to build a business plan.  I wanted to have the experience of how to bring a company into existence.  With this deliverable of a business plan, and potential establishment of an organization, it will be the cherry on my ice cream.  A marvelous bookend to mark the completion of my MBA experience.

Stay tuned!

Capstone Beginnings

A big thank you for the calls, emails and texts I got in support of my last posting.  In just a short week, I've had to remind myself several times of the lessons of the moment.  It is hard to hold yourself to carefully selected words.  More than a few times this week I feel like I didn't extend as much grace as I could have or used words in the moment that later I regretted even having taken a position on.  Its a learning process, and I'll be my own critic.  This year I will make progress.. better yet- this week I will make progress.  I should surround myself with all things Swiss and breathe in the refreshing air of neutrality.  Unfortunately, my passion and quick response are things I'm still learning to master.

On another front, we met with a guy named Joel today.  This was our official first meeting between capstone team and the party we're going to be "working" for.  Right now, the project's still not completely solidified, and I think we left feeling that putting together a strategic plan would be a big enough project in and of itself.  As a stretch- I question as to whether we could walk this group through the launch of a nonprofit (and somewhere deep inside I shudder as that sounds like nails on a chalkboard to one who knows this market is already overly saturated with nonprofits), and the detailing of an MOU between this new org and the organization Joel has officially approached to help launch the project.

The reasons I suggest considering the nonprofit status is it allows for a little more independence and creative freedom than being under a national banner that has to keep some policies in place just cause thats how you protect your branding.  At the same time, to a project that has the opportunity to span out from this org's dedicated mission, it could lead to conflict and limit potential, had this project been given free reign to take on its own life.  I think it needs this organization in its infant state, and thus would not even consider branching this project into its own org without the backing of this well rooted charity.

Course, then again- this project could potentially serve as a product, and thus a nonprofit isn't exactly a good match either.  It would have to be some sort of quasi organization... more research needs to be done.  We have a research project in my Business, Society, and Public Policy class- so, I think I've made a match and will begin on my capstone in this semester by researching options for establishement for the project.

Stay tuned- I'll try to walk through the development of our capstone in the case you can learn anything from our example/ mistakes.

Silent and Spoken Leadership

This morning I joined a meeting about business advocacy.  We help set priorities for the local area's agenda, and determine what might be upcoming issues.  This morning amendments were being made to the prior year's agenda when we came across a debatable topic.  The priority read something like we support the retraining and support of the unemployed, but at the end it threw in a qualifier for receiving unemployment services.  People would have to be drug tested to be approved. 

There were many points made about whether this followed a position of innocent until proven guilty, who would pay for such a profound program, or that perhaps it would be better to include suggested volunteer service to continue unemployment support.  The final discussion point was in question of whether or not mandatory drug testing was a true top priority, and if not, to remove the language.

Throughout the conversation, multiple comments were made, derogatorily towards the fact that unemployment had been stretched to cover an individual for 99 weeks. Many commented that no one should require this length of the program, and it felt that they were indicting these people as free riders of the system... choosing not to go to work, because- why work, when you have unemployment?

Leut. Governor David Dewherst also came recently to Round Rock.  In some of his opening statements he talked about job opportunities in Texas.  How it would be hard to remain unemployed, and everyone he was talking to agreed- 99 weeks of unemployment was pretty much for the free riders.

I don't question that any system will have abuse.  There should be mechanisms in place to prevent that, and technically the unemployment system does require proof of applications and job seeking.  Should it be strengthened? Yes.  But as I looked around the room, feeling the judgement some had, I wondered- do they have a face that goes with the program?  Do they personally know someone supported by or abusing the unemployment system.  Where are these thoughts founded?  My heart was beating faster, and I was trying really hard to say nothing, but those 99 weekers have a face to me.  It's my dad.

Where does leadership take us?  What does Christian leadership call for us to do?  Is it best to just hold in, and not rock the boat, or do we stand up for those who go unrepresented in the room?  A lot of times, people just don't know... they may not have a face that comes to mind that makes "those people" "our people".

I hold it in my heart not to judge those who at the time were unknowingly saying things that I took personal.  That's life.  Sometimes its easy to assume everyone in the room holds similar perspectives, or that a popular concept may not hold truth for everyone. 

As the topic here concluded I did end up saying something.  I shared that my dad was one of those 99 weekers.  He was looking for a job, but was overly specialized.  He doesn't have a college degree, so due to a practice that tries to minimize the number of incoming resumes, immediately he's eliminated from any job opening.  I shared that he was even willing to take a job at a chain pet store, but when it came down to it- the pay to clean out cages (work) just couldn't pay what 15 years of experience had earned him in unemployment that he had paid into and rightfully earned.  I didn't share that even with unemployment we had to sell my childhood home.  That my dad never really could find a job, and I'm so proud of him now as he goes back to school to re skill as a nurse.  The people in that room didn't know what it was like to go all those 99 weeks praying something would open up.  Fear that the bills would prevail, and hopes to not lose the home.  Yes 99 weeks can be a long time for a free loader, but it was a very long time of praying for an opportunity to present itself... one that never did.

What can I learn from this experience?  Have there been times I have unknowingly said something in a room, and it meant something deeper to someone else?  I think I would challenge myself that if I'm going to make a statement or judgement about a program or a grouping of people, I need to back that up with the faces and stories those judgements represent.  Will I always be able to do this? Probably not, but maybe the real tool for me to practice is the strength of silent leadership.  Practicing reigning in the power of each word, and perhaps not using words when I shouldn't.  I pray to God for the wisdom in the words I must use when leadership should speak.

Case Study: Southwest Airlines presents today's hero- Colleen Barrett

This weekend was Super Bowl Sunday.  Amidst the fun festivities, there were case studies to read and papers to write.  This weekend, in my Strategy for Sustainability text we reviewed E in the TEN Strategy.  (As you may recall, T stood for Transparency). E stands for Engagement.  This reading about how an engaged workforce provides the best results and a bunch of happy campers paired nicely with a case study on Southwest Airlines.  I have to admit, after reading this case study, I was filled with inspiration, and perhaps even a wee bit envious when it came to their culture development strategies.  Their top three values are a warrior spirit, servant heart and fun-LUVing attitude.  It was interesting to read about their first couple of presidents- one known for his love of loud luau shirts, but commended for the time he spent among the people and knowing thousands by name.  It was around their third or fourth president that the first woman COO and president of a major U.S. airline was named.  She received 3-4 paragraphs in the case study, and I was just a bit enamored with her.  Her name is Colleen Barrett, and she served as president from 2001 to 2008.  Here's what the Case Study Shared:

Colleen Barrett began working with Kelleher as his legal secretary in 1967 and had been with Southwest since 1978.  As Executive vice president-customers, Barrett had a high profile among Southwest employees and spent most of her time on culture building, morale building, and customer service; her goal was to ensure that employees felt good about what they were doing and felt empowered to serve the cause of Southwest Airlines.  She and Kelleher were regarded as Southwest's guiding lights, and some analysts said she was essentially functioning as the company's chief operating officer (COO) prior to her formal appointment as president.  Much of the credit for the company's strong record of customer service and its strong-culture work climate belonged to Barrett.

Barrett had been the driving force behind lining the hallways at Southwest's headquarters with photos of company events and trying to create a family atmosphere at the company.  Believing it was important to make the employee feel cared about and important, Barrett had put together a network of contacts across the company to help her stay in touch with what was happening with employees and their families.  When network members learned about events that were worthy of acknowledgment, the word quickly got to Barrett- the information went into a database, and an appropriate greeting care or gift was sent.  Barrett had a remarkable ability to give gifts that were individualized and that connected her to the recipient.

Barrett was the first woman appointed as president and COO of a major U.S. airline.  In October 2001, Fortune ranked Colleen Barrett 20th on its list of the 50 most powerful women in American business.  Barrett retired as president in July 2008, but was scheduled to remain as a full-time Southwest employee until 2013.

Wow- what an incredible woman- and a great role model for the type of role I'd love to someday play.  (would it be too much to ask if anyone knows someone who knows this woman- to see if at all I could get a call to meet her?  You never know unless you ask... and of course, I don't really know what I'd say- I might even be a little star struck!)

As this passage got me to thinking about the possibilities, I quickly came to the realization that the position I am currently in isn't so far off.  I have the joy of serving in a nonprofit that serves several other nonprofits.  My role does allow me opportunities to bring each group "to the table", and there are times that I am intentionally trying to build a culture of unity amongst each of these organizations, which each have such a wonderful different feel and flavor.  I love to create opportunities to engage, including the creation of our representative volunteer open house.  In my role I also have the opportunity to be invested in people's lives - in our community as well as our great staffers.  Ms. Barrett gives me inspiration that I really could take this role to another level.  I also love the part where it talks about analysts saying she was already acting in the role of COO before she was ever named that.  It just goes to show the importance of how your treat your co-workers, and the name one makes for themselves.

Ms. Colleen Barrett- you are today's hero!

Special Guests

Last night was a fun night of class filled with special guests!

We began the night in Decision Making and Strategy in Complex Situations, which is a complex mouthful in itself.  (I don't know that without reading the title, I've ever said that class name the same twice.  Generally I've just shortened it to Complex Decision Making). Moving on- We're beginning to focus on strategies for sustainability, including the TEN model from our text.  Last night we focused on the T- transparency. What began as a trend, and currently a hot buzz word- we discussed whether strategies of transparency are truly sustainable, and where's the line in the appropriate disclosure.  One example, was in our very own Concordia University Texas' move from the original location to our new home on 620.  At one point the old campus had been sold, but the new campus was not closed on.  The President had an open discussion about how if this didn't go through, the University would be, in a sense, homeless.  There was quite a chain of reactions, and as a result, needless worry. 

This makes me think back to our organizational change class where we discussed the processes of change- a point where the org unfreezes, works in a state of "being melted" and then is refrozen (structure to transition to new structure).  In the unfreezing and melting process, there's a lot of ambiguity and concern.  One realizes, perhaps in transparency there can be cases of needless transition, so it becomes a wager of being upfront, keeping everyone on the same page, but ensuring the moral of an organization doesn't take on needless bumps.

We then transitioned to focus on this week's case study of Countrywide Financial and the Sub Prime Mortgage Crisis.  At this point, the Business School's Leadership Advisory Committee came in and each group took on a few extra members to discuss the case and results.  I had to step out at this time, because our guest for the next class called and was there by my invitation, so I had to meet him in the parking lot, and introduce him to the Dean and Director of the MBA prior to the next class starting.

Our next class, Business, Society and Public Policy, is actually taught by the MBA Program Director and we had two special guests serve on a panel to discuss how business and policy come together.  My new friend, and State Representative, Larry Gonzales served on the panel, as well as Comal County Commissioner Greg Parker.

While both serve the Republican Party, they both have distinctive ideas regarding politics and leadership.  We spent an hour getting to know both of these gentlemen through questions asked by the professor, and then we got to open up for questions.

My take aways:

- The value of setting priorities (keeping family and faith before community service)

- Sometimes you don't set out for a political career, but it can happen to you!

-There is value to tenure and knowing truly what's at play, but there's a balance to understanding the usefulness of your leadership, and knowing you're not the only one who can do the job, so you need to make room for new leadership (These guys discussed term limits- one believed in them, the other didn't)

There were many good things shared, and I don't have my notes in front of me, but I am so thankful to both of these men, who have very busy days, and then took time from 7:30-9:30PM to invest in the education of others!  It was truly enriching.

Today at Children At Heart Ministries we had chapel.  A pastor from an Austin Baptist church came in and discussed the story of Joseph from Genesis.  He talked about how some in the room may be happy and satisfied with where they are currently, and others may be in a time of transition, or wondering what's next.  He likened his journey and ours to that of Joseph's, and concluded by saying, "Know that there's purpose in where you are," and "God's engineering you through this time for a future purpose."  I know that message could mean alot to those in the room, but it seemed like a special message delivered for me.  While, I don't have ambitions for politics, I have a drive for leadership that I JUST. CAN'T. SHAKE.  I try to tell myself to slow down, enjoy the journey, know that there has to be patience and preparation.  And while each one of these holds some truth... I can't help but question the norms... do I really have to be in my 30's to be open and aware that there's more to this picture- and engaged in that reality?  I do not want my age to hold me back in my eagerness.  Most of life is learned in participation through life- experience.  Of course there is a due learning curve- but I'm not afraid of one that's steep.  I'm eager to find myself in a place in life where I can begin doing as these special guests have done, and invest in the lives of others. (Deep breath)... and while there is this insatiable fire, I know my steps are guided, and I don't want to step out to where He's not leading.  So I will find my purpose in the here and now... but even in a heart of contentment- I will always be a passionate, driven agent for positive change.