Thursday, December 20, 2012

Three Most Dangerous Things a Local Public Official Can Say While in Office

Below are the three most dangerous things a local public official can say while serving a term in office:

1.   Based on my experience ...

2.   I was just thinking.

3.   Trust me, everyone will be happy.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Perfect Exercise for County / City / Township & Village Administrators and Managers

Many city, county, village, and township administrators/managers just don't have enough hours in a day and many skip exercising on a regular basis.  However, doctors tell us one of the best things we can do to keep our minds sharp is to maintain a healthy body.

I recently learned of an exercise routine developed years ago for municipal managers and I am convinced that it provides positive results.  This exercise is simple, very effective, and easy to fit into your hectic schedule.  By following this daily exercise regiment, you can achieve positive results in no time which will allow you to provide better leadership for your local unit of government.



Begin by finding a quiet room with a level floor where you have plenty of room on each side.  (I recommend a board room or city council chambers when it was not in session.)  Now, with a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides.  Try to hold the potato bags as long as you can; your goal is to reach a full minute; then relax.

Over a period of 2 or 3 weeks, you will find that you can hold this position a little longer each day.  After  several weeks, as your confidence builds, move up to 10-lb potato bags.  Again it might be difficult at first, but after several days of working with the 10-bag, you will find that you will be able to hold the bag for one minute.  When you feel ready, move up to a 50-lb bag.

Because you will find this exercise so easy, you will eventually be able to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold them in your arms for a full five minutes.  (This is the level that I am at.)

After you have successfully proved to yourself that you can hold the 100-lb potato bags for at least five minutes, go ahead and put a potato in each bag and begin the process all over again with the 5-lb bags.