Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News
Sunday, August 30, 2026

We live in a marketplace built on FOMO — fear of missing out.

zzEveryone is chasing the next upgrade — the faster appliance, the shinier car, the investment promising instant gratification.

Inflation has only sharpened the edge. Price matters. Experience matters. Reliability matters.

And leaders feel that pressure more than ever. The demand is for speed, clarity, and results — not the slow, patient work of shaping culture.

I learned that lesson the hard way as a chief revenue officer. We rebuilt our go‑to‑market strategy, redesigned the pipeline, and delivered the predictable growth Wall Street expects.

In the middle of that sprint, I asked the CEO how I was doing. His answer still rings in my ears: “Jack, if I have a problem, you’ll be the second to know.”

That line comes back to me now as our own city manager departs after just 14 months. Leadership is a short‑tenure sport these days.

The Wichita Falls City Council approved a separation agreement for the current city manager and appointed a new city manager Monday, Aug. 24, 2026 Naomi Skinner/Times Record News

There’s an old story about three envelopes left for a successor. Open the first when trouble hits — blame your predecessor. Open the second when trouble returns — reorganize. And when the third envelope is finally opened, the advice is simple — write three envelopes for the next person.

It’s funny until you realize how often leaders actually follow that script.

The Marines say, “Improvise, adapt, overcome.” You go to war with the army you have, not the one you wish you had.

The best leaders understand that. They build vision from the reality in front of them — the market, the competition, the talent they actually have — not the talent they hope will walk through the door.

But reality shifts. Electric Vehicle incentives disappear. Inflation bites. Tariffs rise. Wars disrupt supply chains. Oil prices swing. Low‑cost competitors show up hungry. And while all that unfolds, “keyboard warriors” — today’s Monday‑morning quarterbacks — offer instant judgment from the cheap seats.

The truth is simple: we all serve at someone else’s pleasure. Customers. Voters. Boards. Bosses. Directors. No one leads alone, and no one leads without scrutiny.

Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Leadership feels like that sometimes — a long list of experiments, adjustments, and lessons learned in public.

Results matter. Boldness matters. Excuses don’t. Lean in. Be creative. Know your critics as well as your fans, because their roles will change. And remember, everything affects everything.

Leadership is never a straight line — it’s a series of envelopes, choices, and moments where you decide whether to adapt or retreat.

Leaders who win do: connect mission to community; service to customers, employees, and stockholders; and lifelong learning for all members of the organization..

They always have.

Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology executive who believes in the power of connection, service, and lifelong learning.

Paying it Forward

How to win at leadership #176