Vision. Discipline. Passion. Initiative.
Aki Paasovaara, the leader of Europe United, addresses party's key people.
Let's start first with a story. One time I was leading a regional political campaign - a group of 37 candidates who gathered together every week in a forum for an idea exchange. For the whole campaign I was their contact person. One August meeting they were all complaining and murmuring about the lack of media coverage and lack of money and support groups. And this took place just 3 months of the elections. They complained that this made their campaigning useless and waste of time. At the best, they said, we could only get our leading candidate in.
I asked why they didn't change it. They responded, "Well, that's not our role; we're are not in charge of that." My response to their grumbling shocked them a little. I told them they were coping out, that they could get 15 candidates in if they had the mind to. They were among the top professionals in their jobs and careers and had the skills to make it happen. I encouraged them to contact media, talk with their friends and colleagues. Moreover, I suggested that they should make a presentation to the top leaders of the organisation about making changes to the campaigning and to describe these concerns until the leaders felt so deeply understood that they would then be open to the candidates recommendations.
So, after two weeks, they sent two representatives to see not only the chairman but the whole board. They made a presentation where they described the organisations approach and the need for a change. They continued until this description until it was obvious that the decision-makers felt understood. As soon as they felt understood, they become very open for the recommendations. They literally asked for the recommendations of those representatives, who gave not only the recommendations but also a plan of action that dealt with all the organisational, financial and communicational realities they had described earlier. The board was blown away. They instantly made it a organisation-wide program, to be implemented in all regions.
After that a major change happened. They saw that the decision makers as human beings who needed solutions and models rather than critics, needed sources of light rather than sources of judgement. And what is important, they ceased moaning and started taking more and more responsibility. As what to comes to the results, 12 out of 37 got the seat they worked for, with great help from the media and large support groups.
Now, in my eyes, all organisations are perfectly aligned to get the results they get. Also ours.
Many of our members are working hard, many times even without a formal position - they apply vision, discipline and passion with initiative, - and with great results. Take just for an example Josep Ortega, who joined just in July and has already initiated our continuing education program, which is now up and running. He pushed me, Ivan, Brigit and rest of the board to make it happen. He took the initiative.
Now, I want you to ask yourself: What is the best thing I can do under these circumstances?
Take your time and think this over. This is crucial.
In my eyes, you as senators should reach at least the 5th or the 6th level of initiative (from the book The 8th habit by Stephen R. Covey):
1.) I wait until told
2.) I ask
3.) I will make a recommendation
4.) I intend to do it
5.) I do it and report immediately
6.) I do it and report periodically
7.) I just do it
Ask yourself again: What is the best thing I can do under these circumstances?
Do you want someone tell you what to do? Do you want me to tell you that I want an article from you published in major newspaper before end of the month? No, I don't think so. You need to have the vision, passion, discipline and initiative in you to do it yourself.
You are the future leaders of Europe United organisations across the continent, with great possibilities to make history. However, the history will not remember those who were told to something. No, - history will remember those who took the initiative and made it happen.
We have big things happening soon such as Brussels convention, first steps in the media, registering our Headquarter and many other things. Let's make one thing clear. We need your initiative and help. You are the key people of this party and I expect much more than just voting. I expect Vision, Discipline, Passion and Initiative. Many of our members are working hard to make things happen. Are you one of them?
Yours,
Aki Paasovaara
We must become the change we seek in the world.
Gandhi
Let's start first with a story. One time I was leading a regional political campaign - a group of 37 candidates who gathered together every week in a forum for an idea exchange. For the whole campaign I was their contact person. One August meeting they were all complaining and murmuring about the lack of media coverage and lack of money and support groups. And this took place just 3 months of the elections. They complained that this made their campaigning useless and waste of time. At the best, they said, we could only get our leading candidate in.
I asked why they didn't change it. They responded, "Well, that's not our role; we're are not in charge of that." My response to their grumbling shocked them a little. I told them they were coping out, that they could get 15 candidates in if they had the mind to. They were among the top professionals in their jobs and careers and had the skills to make it happen. I encouraged them to contact media, talk with their friends and colleagues. Moreover, I suggested that they should make a presentation to the top leaders of the organisation about making changes to the campaigning and to describe these concerns until the leaders felt so deeply understood that they would then be open to the candidates recommendations.
So, after two weeks, they sent two representatives to see not only the chairman but the whole board. They made a presentation where they described the organisations approach and the need for a change. They continued until this description until it was obvious that the decision-makers felt understood. As soon as they felt understood, they become very open for the recommendations. They literally asked for the recommendations of those representatives, who gave not only the recommendations but also a plan of action that dealt with all the organisational, financial and communicational realities they had described earlier. The board was blown away. They instantly made it a organisation-wide program, to be implemented in all regions.
After that a major change happened. They saw that the decision makers as human beings who needed solutions and models rather than critics, needed sources of light rather than sources of judgement. And what is important, they ceased moaning and started taking more and more responsibility. As what to comes to the results, 12 out of 37 got the seat they worked for, with great help from the media and large support groups.
Now, in my eyes, all organisations are perfectly aligned to get the results they get. Also ours.
Many of our members are working hard, many times even without a formal position - they apply vision, discipline and passion with initiative, - and with great results. Take just for an example Josep Ortega, who joined just in July and has already initiated our continuing education program, which is now up and running. He pushed me, Ivan, Brigit and rest of the board to make it happen. He took the initiative.
Now, I want you to ask yourself: What is the best thing I can do under these circumstances?
Take your time and think this over. This is crucial.
In my eyes, you as senators should reach at least the 5th or the 6th level of initiative (from the book The 8th habit by Stephen R. Covey):
1.) I wait until told
2.) I ask
3.) I will make a recommendation
4.) I intend to do it
5.) I do it and report immediately
6.) I do it and report periodically
7.) I just do it
Ask yourself again: What is the best thing I can do under these circumstances?
Do you want someone tell you what to do? Do you want me to tell you that I want an article from you published in major newspaper before end of the month? No, I don't think so. You need to have the vision, passion, discipline and initiative in you to do it yourself.
You are the future leaders of Europe United organisations across the continent, with great possibilities to make history. However, the history will not remember those who were told to something. No, - history will remember those who took the initiative and made it happen.
We have big things happening soon such as Brussels convention, first steps in the media, registering our Headquarter and many other things. Let's make one thing clear. We need your initiative and help. You are the key people of this party and I expect much more than just voting. I expect Vision, Discipline, Passion and Initiative. Many of our members are working hard to make things happen. Are you one of them?
Yours,
Aki Paasovaara
We must become the change we seek in the world.
Gandhi
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