Can We Agree On Something?

BY LAURA THOMPSON

This is not a good time to be divided.  There is so much opportunity brewing, so many changes taking place, so much need...we are in transitional times, which means that we can transform our communities, set new standards and make the future brighter.  We can even make it better right now.  If we could just agree on something.

We have great assets in our communities.  We have talent.  We have people that can do so many great things...if only we could agree to do something together...just one thing, to improve our communities.  If we could just do one thing together, where we don't have 20 know it all's at the table who's only purpose for being there is because of our own agenda.  Can we agree on something?

We all talk about the needs of our community, but are we just talking about our needs or are we looking around, seeing needs and tackling the problems as a collective?

I think we fail to see the opportunity to really change our circumstances, as a collective because be can't see the opportunity.  Can we build SOMETHING together?  We all have something to contribute, yet we create these pockets of power (I'll call it the illusion of power) that blocks opportunities for those most in need.

Over the past year, I have observied an organization/movement that I am a member of.  I have watched budding entrepreneurs start from nothing and create multi-million dollar enterprises in that short period of time. What they emphasize most is team work.  I watched them do the work, the research, their creativity, their intellect, their knowledge, their vision and desires and most of them have transformed before my very eyes.  The model that they have created is a "collective" group of businesses that feed off each other.  They flow money through each other's companies and they only do business with a select group of people.  I don't see anything wrong with that.

I would like to see that type of team work in our communities...we have the talent, we have the creativity, we have the desire, but we don't necessarily have the collective thought process that drives that type of success that equates into millions.  Our lifestyles and mindsets are that of consumers and it's difficult for us to imagine working together to help build our businesses and nonprofits into enterprises that can sustain our communities now and in the future.

What one thing can we agree on to help us get to that point?  I don't have the answers, but I know that our ancestors did it and I'm sure they did not always agree on everything, but they did agree that it was necessary to agree on something in order to build a brighter future for our children and to sustain what we have left of our communities.   Can we just agree on SOMETHING?