As we get older, we spend more time thinking back on events and circumstances that played a role in making us who we are today. Many years ago, a city manager told me to “always remember to be about substance.” I struggled with that comment, searching for the hidden meaning. By eliminating all the scientific and physical meanings of the word substance, I found the one I needed: a solid, substantial quality or character.
We can all take our own meaning from those words but what I took from them was this: stay focused on the bigger picture and don’t become discouraged by the things that don’t matter. Although there were times I was upset with certain circumstances, I tried to allow others to benefit from my mistakes.
I read a quote once that said, “It is not the mountain before us that presents the greatest obstacle; it is the grain of sand in our shoe.” We often waste time worrying about things we can’t do anything about. Through the years I have allowed a lot of “grains of sand” to bother me. While an exhaustive list would be more than you would care to read, I have tried to identify the “Top 3” things that once distracted me. I now use them to encourage others.
Do not be defined by:
1. Your title
2. Your chair at the table in a meeting
3. Your parking space
The advice I received years ago has served me well, “Be About Substance.” Others worth mentioning, but did not make my “Top 3” were salary and view from your office. If you would like to share and add to Bob’s list of distractions, please email them to [email protected].
(Article submitted by Bob Turner, City Manager, City of Port Lavaca. If you have interesting news or helpful topics to share, please submit them to Kim Pendergraft at [email protected]. Please keep the information to fewer than 250 words.)