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Who's the Captain of the ship
To the Editor:
In 1981 my Honeywell manager lent me tapes by Michael Vance, concept designer with Roy and Walt Disney at its genesis and with Steve Jobs designed "Apple Values" at its inception.
Creative Thinking, Creative Management and Management by Values were amazing, and his reading list. I bought and brought every one with ocean sailing with Roger Swanson in 1982.
Vance stated, "Don't sanction incompetence." "You do no one any good allowing them to keep making mistakes." Without efficiency, effectiveness, knowledge and speed you are replaced. To win in a sailboat race the "observant" person, scans multiple variables, is first to admit mistakes, adjust, tack and win. Those that don't, don't.
My adventures at Swanson's side and boat left me as a professional sailor in Tahiti. Events put me on the largest modern sailboat on the planet. Protecting a family and yacht like that, you get a bonus you didn't want to hear, a free "Ticket in the bank." At the next port, if you don't work out, you have a "ticket in the bank – home." There was no pretending, no sanctioning incompetence.
A Captain in control is not optional, loyalty, chain of command – imperative, cooperation, communication and teamwork is the goal; a hygiene factor on a successful ship.
Repetitive Liquor store management dumpster fires torching merit, loyalty and reward is incompetence. As a financial advisor for 25 years; witnessing our city finance director of 20 years admit he couldn't produce a simple balance sheet except "by hand"; in my estimation is incompetence.
The City Charter was amended, I am no lawyer, it "appears" since then, City Council agendas are set by the unelected City Administrator/employee except through "special meetings" I hear. "The Mayor has no power, they only run meetings."
That is no way to run a ship of state. Employees/crew telling tax paying employers/us and our representatives Captain/Mayor and Council; what to do, when and how will never work long term. No wonder Fairmont's reputation is "we can't do it". This is neither efficient nor effective. Stay tuned.
Gregg Paulson
Fairmont