May 14, 2024 By Nick Jacobs 4 min read

In 1992, one of my professors dedicated a portion of a class on strategic planning to “saving the dog.”

No, that was not a predictive reference to the current governor of South Dakota, who offed her puppy in a gravel pit. He wanted to prepare us to cope with what he referred to as stagnant or dying organizations, the Dogs. Little did I know at the time that I had already or would soon spend the better part of my working life dealing with just such organizations.

The local school district had over 30 music teachers when I started teaching there in 1970, but, due to population decline, that number began to drop precipitously. As a band director in a shrinking city, the challenge was to continue to build interest, excitement, and engagement in my musical groups. I quickly determined that by doing this, I would also have job security.

To accomplish this challenge, creativity, excitement, and community engagement would all need to come into play. It meant merging education and entertainment in a way that created a new system, edutainment.

Because it was a voluntary program, our students had to want to be there, to enjoy being there, and to be inspired and excited to participate in a first-class organization. And by the way, we had to do it on a limited budget with limited resources.

That became the formula that has served me well throughout my life. Everywhere I’ve gone I have attempted to recreate that same scenario over and over again. Be it at a then-bankrupt arts organization, a shrunken tourism program, a going-broke hospital, and another hospital on the brink of closure, I saw my role as a conductor charged with finding creative ways to breathe new life, excitement, purpose, community engagement and meaning into their being.

The other key for this formula to work was one that I learned from Dr. Denis Waitley in workshops that I took during training for another job. He was the U.S. Olympic psychologist charged with helping the athletes develop a positive mental attitude.

In a world that is filled with challenges and uncertainties, a positive mental attitude is key to creating an uplifting environment for not only yourself but also for those around you. It is a cornerstone for personal growth and resilience. A positive mental attitude becomes the lens through which we perceive the world and our position in it.

If we can maintain a positive outlook, rather than being weighed down by negativity and obstacles that are a constant part of our existence, we can be more open to the possibilities and challenges we face. We will perceive setbacks as opportunities rather than obstacles. Your goals become oriented more towards creating a life that not only benefits us individually as purpose-driven but it also uplifts society.

Hence, as we all gather to watch our loved ones graduate from high school, college, kindergarten, or even preschool, let’s work to encourage them to inspire others by leading by example through embracing a positive attitude. This attitude can serve as a source of motivation and encouragement for everyone around us.

Let’s promote innovative solutions because creative thinking will help them solve complex problems that can lead to positive change and progress.

Individuals, businesses, and organizations that are all about only themselves represent the pinnacle of negativity and greed. Community is the key. By living with purpose, we give back to our communities in the form of volunteerism and providing resources to help others. These actions create a tangible impact which results in ripples of positivity that are contagious and create optimism and new growth.

Come on, friends. We’ve got this. Our attitude determines our direction. Nothing has to be the way it is. We can all strive to work toward a world that could be rather than a world that is.

Nick Jacobs is a Windber resident.