Eric.Coet

During good times, it's easy to read leadership books and get behind all the cliché quotes, methodologies, and soundbites from the experts. We can learn from case studies and cast big vision and goals. When margins are high, and rain produces abundant crops, it seems to make a hell of a lot more sense to be strategic, work on the future, and take risks. But how do we think about the future when we are just trying to survive? Here are 6 strategic moves to build a more sustainable future for your co-op...

No Rain, No Gain? 6 Strategic Moves to Build a More Sustainable Future For Your Co-op Here are six strategic moves your Co-op can make right now to build the foundation for a more sustainable future whether it rains or not.

It’s a grand thing to do big things in life. But a nobler cause is equipping others toward greatness.

In fighting to end slavery, Frederick Douglas was known as an astounding orator. But perhaps he made an even more significant impact in his role as a teacher. He knew he could be more effective by raising more leaders. He sought knowledge and then pursued opportunities to use that knowledge to help others grow. When given the opportunity to teach a small group of students, he wrote, “Here, thought I, is something worth living for, here is an excellent chance for usefulness.”

When you look out over the landscape of the next year, what do you see as an excellent cause worth living for? Further, how can you make yourself useful in that cause? What information is your employee trying to gather, and what course can you enroll them in to make it happen? Is a young person in your church or community looking for a mentor? We talk about being generous with money and time, but what about knowledge? This year, look for a chance to bring tangible value to those around you and to share knowledge.