Contemplate – and celebrate.

Contemplate – and celebrate.

Last night as I was walking around our yard, I noticed the silence.  Well, the relative silence.  It was a little sticky outside, around dusk, and a light fog had begun to settle in.  I know, I know – it’s a little quieter in unincorporated Bulloch County anyway.  And it was a Sunday evening, when our traffic is slower than normal.  To me, I enjoyed the chance to just be still, and quiet.

It seems that economic developers never want for things to do. There are always things to work on that would help our communities in some way.  Business prospects – industrial, commercial, or retail – certainly take a lot of our time.  If there’s not a project in front of us, we’re trying to find one on the horizon. Or, we’re trying to help our communities find the horizon, with community planning, strategy sessions, and the like.  Fall Festivals to support? Dancing with the Stars for charity? OK – we’ll be there.

Sometimes, it seems like we have to be busy, or we feel guilty when we’re not. And that’s a shame. We should all take some time to contemplate who we are, what we do, and why we do it.  Contemplation can help us remember why we’re in this business in the first place – it’s certainly not to get rich, but it is absolutely rewarding.

In addition, we also should take time to celebrate.  I was recently reminded of this when a group of us celebrated a recent project location decision.  We didn’t talk about the details or agonize about things left to be done. Instead, we just laughed and talked and reminded ourselves of the successful effort, the great things that would come to the community, and the fun of working as a team to help make it happen.

This month, I hope you all take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the Deals of the Year with GEDA at our November luncheon.  And while a handful of projects will receive this year’s awards, I hope you all will take note of the successes you’ve been a part of this year, and that you’ll celebrate those successes – and contemplate how fortunate we are to do what we do.

See you soon.