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This is the text of a 7 1/2 minute talk given
at the Mohawk Valley Toastmasters Club in Utica, NY on April 27, 2005:
"CREATING A BREAKTHROUGH IN CENTRAL NEW YORK"
How many of you have had the thought or said to someone in the midst of
winter - "I’d like to move to someplace warm, someplace booming – not here"?
How many of you have ever said or heard someone say to a newcomer: “why would
anyone want to move here? Thoughts and conversations like this
are very much a part of the background conversation here in Central New
York. It is the transformation of these conversations that is the
subject of my talk tonite. I’m going to tell you about
Breakthrough Central New York – which a new grass roots initiative to transform
the community conversation from one that includes a major amount of resignation
to one of satisfaction, appreciation and possibility for an extraordinary
future. I’ll be telling you about the 3 generating principles
of the initiative and at the conclusion you’ll have a chance to look at the
card that we ask people to sign to see if it’s something you would like
to do. Whatever you choose is fine, by the way.
How do you transform a community conversation you might ask?
Well we start with ourselves and the first generating principle of our
initiative which is that - as individuals – you and I make the
difference. There is power in what we say, what we
think about and what we put our attention and intention on.
You know, when I first moved to this area in 1986, people were asking me
“why would I want to move here?” and I fell into that limiting conversation.
I began to act as if I needed to go outside this area to New York City,
Chicago, or Atlanta for the opportunity to fulfill my sculpture business
dreams. It was only recently that I realized that, hey, I make
the difference and I can make my work thrive right here. It
was out of this new stand that I joined toastmasters and am taking action
to create a flourishing business right here, in fact just today, an article
appeared in the Clinton Courier about my work.
Our second generating principle: there is tremendous power in
context which for the most part goes undistinguished. There is
a background conversation which determines what we see as possible and which
shapes how we are being and what actions are open to us.
In 1961 President Kennedy declared that we shall put a man on the moon within
10 years and created a context which allowed even those folks whose said
it couldn’t done to actually contribute to it being done. 8 years later it
was done.
The third generating principle of our initiative is there is power in
the alignment of many individuals taking a stand for a common purpose.
A group of aligned jazz musicians creates magic - they are in the
groove, but if each was off in his own key, and rhythm, wanting to
be a star, quite the opposite would happen. There is another phenomenon
that takes place when a certain number of individuals are all aligned on
the same thing. We don’t know the exact number, but when the number
is reached, a critical mass is created that makes the purpose catch
fire – a kind of spontaneous combustion occurs and conversations or actions
to fulfill on the purpose just take place spontaneously without our having
to generate them. Suddenly the conversation is everywhere and
there is a DEMAND for our extraordinary future that cannot be denied.
Breakthrough Central New York is intending to create this demand and our
goal is enroll 25,000 folks by the end of the year. There is
nothing you have to do but notice what comes up out of your stand.
Have your stand empower what you are already doing. I
invite you all to express your commitment to an extraordinary future right
here by filling
out the card in the envelope on the table in front of you Look
at our website noted on the small end of the card which you should keep.
Please hand in the large end of the card to me. I value your
partnership. Thank you.
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