In the movie "Field of Dreams", Kevin Costner's character famously quotes "If you build it, they will come." That may have worked in the movie (there were also baseball players coming out of the corn fields), but not so much in real life. You need to get the word out about what you are passionate about, whether that is a cause, a product, an idea, a service or a theology. Everyone is assaulted every day by ads to "buy this", "do this", "join this", so what makes you stand out? You! Your passion, your personality, but mostly, your personal relationship with your audience is what brings your message to the forefront. So often, we spend so much time "building" that we forget to invite others to join in. It's like planning a great party and not calling anyone to come and join the fun! Then you're stuck sitting at the party alone. Talk to people - personally. E-mail blasts, form letters and generic Facebook invites don't count. Be sincere. Build it - but spend at least as much time inviting them to come.
I am a rule follower. I like rules. I think rules help to avoid a lot of problems. They provide clear expectations for appropriate behavior. They bring a certain civility to life. That being said, I think I'm a dying breed. Almost every day I see people breaking traffic laws (texting, running red lights, causing grid lock, speeding through school zones). These things are illegal and downright dangerous. And don't even get me started about how awful people are when dropping off and picking up at school. I have recently had conversation with a couple people who are dealing with bad employee behavior. The employees do not like some changes that have occured within their respective companies. (On a side note- companies often have to change due to economic or industry factors just to keep their doors open.) Instead of adjusting to the changes or forming a plan to make the changes work in their favor, they have chosen behaviors that are unethical and damaging...
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