Leadership!

Character, Competence, Courage, Commitment, Caring, Communicating, and Community. The 7 C’s of leadership. To me the real travesty here is all this political drama that has taken the focus off the real victims, the three children and 3 adults that lost their lives! And TODAY, I am not going to tackle the big legislative issue of gun control, which will take years to pass and even longer to implement, because for me that is a waste of time. Due to the fact that no one will truly be happy even if all guns are taken, because the real issue is the loss of life and how we can as the human race control that very aspect of our human nature.

You see TODAY, I am a father, who’s heart goes out to the families of the real victims, the 6 people murdered in the Christian School in Nashville. Instead of agenda politics and headline antics, I want to roll up my sleeves to find solutions, I want action now! Even if we don’t agree on how to keep our children safe, can’t we come together to find solutions to protect them now? I don’t want to wait years, I don’t want to wait another week to protect my children, I want real solutions that we can make happen today! No matter the laws that are put in place the truth is there are thousands of guns already out there! I want to find solutions to keep my kids and your kids safe as soon as possible and this is an issue I am willing to tackle.

TODAY, I may not be a legislator, but I am what would be considered an expert on leadership and conflict resolution. After all I did lead many sailors through conflicts as a Chief in the Navy for 21 years. Believe me, I’ve had some practice! After the events that took place last week, I would like to remind you of the 4 C’s (no that’s not Navy talk, that would be the 7 seas)

The 4 C’s of Conflict Resolution– Communication, Collaboration, Compromise, and Commitment
The breakdown of communication is always the root of conflict and the divided state of politics is creating so much noise that no one wants to listen. Voters are losing faith in government because equitable resolutions are not being reached And last week’s event reinforced that feeling.

The most important part of communication is listening followed by acknowledgment, expectations, and respect. Representatives on both sides of the aisle must communicate to achieve fair and equitable resolutions for the sake of our families, friends, and neighbors.

Business Standard I for one would like the opportunity to reach out my hand to Representative Justin Pearson to work together to author a bipartisan bill to protect our children. Our State is on display and we are being judged. And no matter what we do, we will be met with hostile fire. We must show our commitment by defending our laws, and our courage by delivering the consequences, and our strength by showing respect and empathy. I hope you are listening as you get through the hostile fire of the next days and months, and that you will rise above the noise and be true to your commitments to be the leaders we need.