Comments on: Sad but true http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2006/11/04/sad-but-true/ Moving from imagination to impact... Thu, 17 May 2012 06:45:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Ann Oliveri http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2006/11/04/sad-but-true/#comment-2033 Sun, 05 Nov 2006 14:03:08 +0000 http://www.principledinnovation.com/blog/2006/11/04/sad-but-true/#comment-2033 Two weeks ago, Robert Redford was interviewed on stage at our opening general session by our chairman and two other officers. A record 6,000 people were in the room. At the end of the conversation, Redford said he had looked at our web site and was still not sure what we did. Our chairman laughed and said we were still trying to figure it out. All she had to say is that we want the same things you do, Bob, so why don't you join. That's all. For 70 years, we have been a 501(c)(3) membership organization promoting best practices in real estate development, building better professionals and better communities. We have 34,000 members and countless public officials, reporters, and environmentalists who believe it. Millions of others--citizens--have benefited from our work. That's leadership and it doesn't matter who holds the title or acts as the liaison. Leaderless organizations, movements move on. That my top volunteers can't say the right words under pressure is my problem, not theirs. The fact that developers are trying to counteract sprawl and are stewards of the land contradicts conventional wisdom, so I just have to find new ways to make their efforts visible. Two weeks ago, Robert Redford was interviewed on stage at our opening general session by our chairman and two other officers. A record 6,000 people were in the room.

At the end of the conversation, Redford said he had looked at our web site and was still not sure what we did. Our chairman laughed and said we were still trying to figure it out.

All she had to say is that we want the same things you do, Bob, so why don’t you join. That’s all.

For 70 years, we have been a 501(c)(3) membership organization promoting best practices in real estate development, building better professionals and better communities. We have 34,000 members and countless public officials, reporters, and environmentalists who believe it. Millions of others–citizens–have benefited from our work.

That’s leadership and it doesn’t matter who holds the title or acts as the liaison. Leaderless organizations, movements move on.

That my top volunteers can’t say the right words under pressure is my problem, not theirs. The fact that developers are trying to counteract sprawl and are stewards of the land contradicts conventional wisdom, so I just have to find new ways to make their efforts visible.

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