When I first heard this line from “Help!” the Beatles 1965 song by John Lennon, I had graduated from High School and was poised to meet life head on. Full of vim and vigor and not much else, the first lines of the song were probably more suited to what was in store. “Help, I need somebody, Help, not just anybody, Help, you know I need someone, help.”
Interestingly, the Beatles song has been reinvented by several artists, and a quick Google search produced a myriad of applications of the sentiment. Yesterday I sat next to Bobbie Garber, Community Research Partners, at the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing’s Partners Luncheon. We talked about the way life constantly changes and how the challenge is not only keeping up with it, but preparing for it. Over the years we have both observed and experienced how organizations strategically address change. Some Don’t Ever Change but expect their model and mission are strong enough to stem the tide. Others are so focused on the task at hand that the idea of strategic examination is met with the same response, “Don’t Bother Me”. Gone are the days of Long, Long, Long processes of strategic planning that specifically define goals and objectives, typically outdated by the time of completion.
So, How do you do it? Most critical thinking in this area talks about framing strategy around the inevitability of change and getting ready to adapt to whatever happens. I’ve included a list of some books espousing these ideas, and From Me to You none of them advocate doing away with strategic planning but simply make our planning more strategic. As a matter of fact, one recent book “The Momentum Effect” (J.C. Larreche) suggests that many successful businesses do very little strategic planning in the typical definition but thrive on experience, a good sense of the market, and an ability to quickly adapt to change. It is my observation that this is the approach of many of the businesses in the community revitalization industry. They just Act Naturally and do what needs to be done relying on innovation, perseverance, and sometimes just plain dumb luck to make things happen.
Groups like Vistula Management Company from Toledo continue to reinvent themselves over the years for the benefit of their beneficiary families. John Kiely from Vistula recently sent me a letter after attending Finance Fund’s Annual Reception in which he reminisced about the connection we have had over the years and sent copies of correspondence highlighting more than a decade of continued dedication to serving low-income Toledo neighborhoods. John talked about “memories of when we were both much younger (than today) and had a great deal of enthusiasm for creating low-income housing in Ohio.” It is my observation that the enthusiasm has not diminished and simply has yet again blossomed in innovation. Let It Be known that If I Fell prey to waning passion you will Tell Me What You See, because In My Life since that 1965 Beatles song, I have seen the answer to the Help reprise. We have an active industry of helpers and I Feel Fine.
