MATC Matters

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Of all the things we are thankful for this Thanksgiving Day let us be thankful to work with each other for such a wonderful opportunity-transforming lives. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and safe travels.

Good news!
The new staff directories are on the way to all employees this week! This will be a great tool for communication here for all of us at the college and especially for new staff learning their way around. Special thanks to Kelly Schulte, Jenny Bentley, Doug Gerbitz, Amy Kittleson, Dave Kasten, Patrick Roe, Ellen Vervoort, and Hiedi Hillmer and all who helped on this valuable project.

The theme of this year’s Downtown Madison, Inc. annual event was “Big Dreams & Bold Ideas.â€? Keynote speaker Kirk Watson, Texas state senator and former mayor of Austin, is described as a man with a vision of what the community wants and the moxie to carry it out. Although he was addressing the issue of downtown development, much of what he had to say about the value of “bold ideas” is food for thought as we turn our attention to planning for the future.

I’d like to share his 10 Key Steps to Bold Ideas:

1. Be willing to think big and bold. Paralysis comes if we give in to fear of failure or if we try to hold back in case something better might come along. Thinking big and bold requires action to move forward.

2. Create a vision. Know what we’re trying to achieve. Without a vision, we run the risk of repeating our mistakes. With a vision, we can learn from our mistakes and see how each project fits into the broader context.

3. Find both the chicken and the egg. Avoid getting stuck waiting for something to happen first before moving on. In the long run, it doesn’t matter which portion comes first. Move ahead with all elements of your plans.

4. Keep open to new ideas. Sometimes a new idea seems “weird” only because it’s never been done before. Be willing to give each idea an open hearing.

5. “Incentivize” the vision, the ideas and the design. By adding incentive, we can demonstrate the value of our vision each step of the way. For example, with our vision for the Fort Atkinson campus addition we can show the value in students trained and health care jobs filled.

6. If you own it, you can do so much more with it. We are fortunate that, unlike the municipalities Watson was addressing, we have ownership of our college. I would say building that sense of ownership among our students, staff and the community is key.

7. You are not going to meet everyone’s concept of perfection with bold ideas and big visions. Watson says he’s happy if 84 percent of his constituents are happy. To move forward, we must be comfortable that most, but not all, will be in agreement.

8. Create new and different constituencies. Be willing to step back and look at our ideas from different perspectives. We can ask, “What’s missing from our plans and how can we add to them?”

9. Focus on your assets. Tally up and use all our advantages. Admit our weaknesses, and either change or find a way to work around them. The focus must remain on how best to achieve our ultimate goals.

10. Have a short-term focus and long-term vision. Focusing on the here and now allows us to seize opportunities as they happen. When our long-term vision is carried out, we will be able to look back and see our progression as we worked toward our goal.

Again, have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Bettsey