Seems to Me

Your legacy and life as a county official Seems

Remember when you would go to bed at night as a kid thinking, “I can’t wait until I wake up.” Oh, for the attitude of a 5 year old! That simple uncluttered desire for living that can’t wait for tomorrow. I not only remember that feeling as a kid. That same feeling has prevailed through most of my professional career. It has been fun to get up in the mornings and go to work. I have truly had a blessed life. When I got into county government more than 35 years ago, I found my calling. There is no doubt in my mind that I have been serving where I was called to serve.

Are you serving in the right place? I wrote a guest column for our local newspaper in December about leaving a Christmas legacy. I want to continue in that vein and use this column to talk about leading, legacy and life.

Leading

County officials can and should choose to lead in these difficult times. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness ….” It seems like Charles Dickens was writing about our nation’s current fiscal and political calamities when he penned those words in 1859. We are not living in an era like the one described in Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, but we are certainly in the midst of great economic and political struggles. And it certainly seems that we exist in conflicted times — dysfunctional but opportunistic, frustrating and maddening, historic and challenging, with hope and despair, everything before us and nothing before us. These are tough times, and it should bring out the best attributes of a true public servant. During my long tenure as an elected official, my years as director of the Association of Arkansas Counties, and the last five plus years serving as a consultant to the AAC, it has been the tough times that have really challenged me and made me focus to find solutions.

Today’s political and economic climate calls for leaders who can develop a vision to prepare our counties for the future. We need leaders who can look down the road and discern what is really important to future generations, and then articulate that vision to a public that naturally does not like taxes. The current rhetoric about taxes fails to recognize that most of the taxes we pay today at the local and state levels are an investment in our future. And many local taxes will be passed by the electorate with a well-laid plan and trusted leadership. Trusted leadership comes with always being open and honest with your constituency, not in telling them what they want to hear but rather the simple truth.

The economy is better than it was for several years — but not as good as it should be or will be. It will turn around, and when it does, county governments with leadership will be prepared for prosperity. Areas in which the focus has only been on trying to make everyone feel better today will continue to suffer because they won’t have the infrastructure or the plan in place to succeed. Yes, there will always be Red Seas, Jericho Walls and Goliaths to conquer, but good county leaders can do it. As I’ve said before, the key to success is more about passion than talent; it’s more about reaching potential than being gifted. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We must do the things we think we cannot do.”

As county leaders, we don’t always get to choose the battle or issue, but we do get to choose how we will respond. In the best of times or the worst of times, people need someone to shoulder the task and lead the way. Maintain the focus. Make the choice. Be the leader you were elected to be.

Legacy

I believe county officials should start their service thinking about the leadership legacy they will leave. Thinking about your legacy will prove to be the impetus for your service and keep you on track. I can remember from the beginning of my service more than 35 years ago that I simply wanted to “make a difference.” I soon realized that “make a difference” needed further definition. How would I make a difference? Musing upon the question was revealing. To make a difference I wanted to be an elected official seen as a high standard example of ethics, work habits, knowledge of county government law, accuracy of facts and figures, and fairness. My hope is that Arkansas county government is better for my having passed its way. Was I successful? That’s not my call. But it kept me focused to be the best I could be.

In “Leaving a Leadership Legacy” Dr. Randy Garner said, “Regardless of what you do as a leader, you will leave a legacy — the important thing is to consider how you would like to be remembered and to work toward those things that ensure the realization of that vision. When you think of your legacy now, it is much more likely that the legacy you actually leave will better match your goal. Legacy leadership is not accidental; it is intentional. It begins with self-reflection on how you see yourself, your role, and the way you want to influence others. Perhaps it might be more appropriate to talk about living your legacy rather than leaving a legacy, since the real challenge is to daily lead our lives in a way that positively influences those around us.”

Think back to the men and women who have shaped and mentored you. They planted seeds in your mind and heart — seeds of faith, hope and love; seeds of enthusiasm, action and service. They invested in your today so that you might pass on a legacy for someone else’s tomorrow. What lasting things will you plant today? What legacy will you leave? Thinking today about the legacy you are leaving for others tomorrow will make you a better county leader today. Building a legacy worth leaving begins today and is made one decision at a time. Make a difference!

Life

Insight into the meaning of life has been a central preoccupation of literature from ancient times. Multiple philosophies and religions have touted the “meaning of life” — not all in the same way by any stretch of the imagination.

For the vast majority of us in this area, we regard life as a precious gift from God; precious not only because it is a gift from God, but also because as humans there is uniqueness attached to that gift. We are created in the image of God. Because we carry

To Me...

Eddie A. Jones County Consultant

within us the divine image we have unlimited potential. We know that it is God “in whom we live and move and have our being.”

One of life’s greatest challenges is to find your true purpose in life — vocationally. Confucius, a Chinese teacher, editor, politician and philosopher, said many years ago, “Choose work that you love and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.” I am so blessed to have spent the last 35 years in public service. Public service gives you the opportunity to be what you are, and to become what you are capable of becoming.

I have had an extremely successful county government career and hope to continue that career for a while longer because of the passion I have to serve and make a difference. In fact, the only reason to be in politics is public service. There’s no other reason.

If you are currently serving in county government, maybe it is because you have found your true vocational purpose in life like I did many years ago. I truly hope so. Our people need dedicated men and women serving them in the realm of county government — no doubt the closest and most responsive government to the people. Dedication to the task calls for a lot of hard work and sacrifice.

Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “Help others and give something back. I guarantee you will discover that while public service improves the lives and the world around you, its greatest reward is the enrichment and new meaning it will bring your own life.”

Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican who served the state of Maine both as a U.S. Representative and a Senator said, “Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people.” That requires total dedication and attention to detail — not like Marvin’s preacher.

Marvin was in the hospital on his death bed. The family called Marvin’s preacher to be with him in his final moments. As the preacher stood by the bed, Marvin’s condition seemed to deteriorate, and Marvin motioned for someone to quickly pass him a pen and paper. The preacher quickly got a pen and paper and lovingly handed it to Marvin. But before he had a chance to read the note, Marvin died. The preacher, feeling that now wasn’t the right time to read it, put the note in his jacket pocket. It was at the funeral while speaking that the preacher suddenly remembered the note. Reaching deep into his pocket the preacher said, “And you know what, I suddenly remembered that right before Marvin died he handed me a note, and knowing Marvin I’m sure it was something inspiring that we can all gain from.” With that introduction the preacher ripped out the note and opened it. The note said, “Hey, you are standing on my oxygen tube!”

Be dedicated, responsive and timely in your public service.

The simple uncluttered desire for living that can’t wait for tomorrow — that’s the attitude we should all take in our life of public service in county government. As Donald Rumsfeld said, “Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.”

Live a dedicated life of service providing true leadership and thereby leaving a revered legacy. A blessed life, a rewarding career — just like tomato basil soup and a grilled cheese sandwich on a cool, crisp day!