Paying It Forward: Choose Wisely
Paying It Forward: Choose Wisely
Change is hard, make a difference by serving your community.
Change is hard, but natural; my paraphrasing from Thomas Friedman’s 2005 Bestseller, The World is Flat. Writing as a fledgling internet enabled outsourcing, linking tasks and workforces independent of locale, he observed “goods are traded, services are consumed and produced in the same place.” Fast forward twenty years, work from home allowed relocation in cities far from office desks meeting via Zoom. My friend David, licensed to sell in Texas, customers enjoy his service for insurance. He can handle my brother’s needs in the Metroplex from Wichita Falls; I gave a referral.
Spring heralds change, cabin fever increases our want for social engagement with volunteer opportunities of interest in reconnecting. The ongoing confluence of AI, Algorithms, and Big Data changes roles, workflows and best practices. Add in new leaders and new processes and things don’t work the way I’m used to. I just want to volunteer like I did before.
Gen Z, born 1995 – 2009, enters today’s workforce with less trust in corporations. They are also more concerned about career opportunities and also more likely to have “side gig” income streams than prior generations. Best leadership practices favor influence rather than direction.
The Salvation Army shares these leadership lessons after more than 150 years of experience:
1. Real leadership is based on integrity
2. Treat everyone in your care with civility, and respect.
3. Lead by listening.
4. Know where you stand in a sea of change.
5. Realize that you didn’t get here alone.
(“perhaps echoes most strongly,” Salvation Army footnoted)
Generations see things differently. Playing Family Feud with my son’s extended family, five generations. Question: Name one thing that wears out? While I’m thinking “knees or eyes,” Taylor, Gen Alpha, answers, “File Folders!”
Texas Panhandle fires need volunteers and donations: Hay, Feed, Fence Supplies, Cattle Feed, and Wildlife Feed, https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/2024-panhandle-wildfires/
Can I make a difference? 144 volunteers interacted over 12,500 times serving the 770,000 Texans living in the 38 counties served by the N Texas Red Cross, Big County Chapter. What can you do? What do you like to do? Why not? Make the world better, share your heart and hands.
Saturday, Mar 23, a couple of dozen volunteers from all parts of Wichita Falls turned out to make a difference for the memories of dear family members buried at Eastlawn Cemetery at Bacon Switch Road and FM369. Good weather, good fellowship, good work and uncovering graves of veterans who we remember proudly for their sacrifices.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides Easter magic! They’ll hide eggs full of candy and prizes in any yard inside Wichita Falls city limits; first come, first serve. Email: amcdonald@bbbstx.org or call: 940-767-2447 or https://forms.gle/KsBrTfjeruuviyXg8
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How Are the Children Doing? Jack Browne
