Today is the 100th day in office for President Obama. The talking heads on TV, commentators on radio, bloggers and print journalists have made much of this event. Polls, report cards and comparisons have been discussed, dissected and detailed. I voted for Obama for president and I like his style, his demeanor and the effort he is putting forth to correct the complex problems that face our nation. I don't happen however to think much at all about what 100 days means in the ongoing effort. This is an artificial period of time, used by the talking heads and others to"grade" the president. There is much to do and many more days ahead to accomplish what must be done for our nation. The president is off to a good start though because he is a man of deliberate action. He thinks through what he hopes to achieve, compares varying ideas and considers the various options and opinions and then moves forward to action. He is a consensus builder, one of the most important qualities of a great leader.
Each of us can take something from the idea of deliberate action. In our own lives, taking the time to think things through, consulting family and friends, weighing the pros and cons and then taking action to achieve whatever you have decided to achieve. This is an intelligent way to act. Whether you decide to place a 100 day report out on your own efforts is surely up to you. Performance measurement is a valuable tool to be sure. We should give ourselves plenty of time and consider that difficult and complex issues take time, that nothing easy is accomplished without some sacrifice and that our lives are lived not just one day at a time but one moment at a time, enjoy the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment