Wishful thinking

How often do you find yourself complaining that gravity is just unfair?

I mean, if it weren’t for this ridiculous fundamental universal force, you could fly! You could be free! You could leap tall buildings in a single bound!

Right. Of course no rational adult is really bothered by that.

Little kids, maybe.

The rest of us learned long ago that the limitations of gravity (and its benefits, by the way) are a fact of life, and there’s little value in trying to wish them away.

Turns out, it’s not just gravity.

• Complex systems are hard to master.

• The future is hard to predict.

• Donors who don’t feel appreciated don’t return.

• Members want substantial value in return for dues.

• Staff need training, support, and leadership.

• Every improvement requires an investment of time, attention, and funds.

But unlike gravity, these simple facts of life are still not understood and accepted by many of us grown adults. It’s easy to imagine that we could — if not for these pesky realities — truly change the world for good without so much effort.

But it’s no use.

The realities are there, and there’s little value in trying to wish them away.

The value, of course, comes when we accept them, anticipate them, and learn to turn them to our advantage.

All the best,
A.