Traveling in My Own Solar System

As of a month ago, on the south-facing roof of our house, I see new and shiny solar photovoltaic panels. After a great deal of research and consideration, I contracted to have a 10-kilowatt energy system installed at our house. Of course the most up-to-date technology is an important consideration in exploring the creation of a personal solar system. However, equally important, is the customer service and sense of caring conveyed by whichever company — or government agency for that matter — with which you choose to do business. On all of these counts, the vendor I selected scored very well indeed. 

The company followed through with their commitments. They were as excited as I was to help me explore the solar system. They made sure I understood all that was going to happen. They also arrived with an affiliated green bank to arrange for low interest financing such that there were no out-of-pocket start-up costs. My only regret is that I did not receive an autographed photo of Elon Musk.

Now that I am a solar system owner, and someone who can look back to more than four decades of work as a local government human resources director and county chief administrative officer, I respectfully offer some thoughts for my fellow public administrators (and mommies, daddies and neighbors).

Always be on the lookout for ways to innovate and be more self-sufficient. Self-sufficiency means a reduced reliance on others for maintaining and improving the quality of your life and the life of your family, community, nation and planet.

As my two beautiful daughters were growing up in the public schools, it was our mission as parents to be involved in their education. Their education was far too important to be abandoned to some school board to make long-range decisions which profoundly affect their lives. The same is true for city and county governments, not to mention the state and federal agencies.  Getting involved as a citizen can change the dynamic for a parent and for a community.

As a result, and after ongoing discussions with the kids, we were able to identify passions in them which we could harness with the help of a network of friends and colleagues. For example, when future Doctor Daughter Rachel demonstrated an extremely strong curiosity in science and medicine. It was not long before she was the proud owner of her own microscope and got to meet various medical and science professionals whose friendship we cherished.

Later, she approached the county medical examiner at the time, Joshua Perper, M.D., and asked if she could be an intern with him. Ironically, years later as Dr. Rachel arrived in North Carolina to begin her family practice medicine career, she was contacted by the county sheriff to come to the scene of a double homicide. Quizzically, Dr. Rachel said something like “What?” The sheriff explained that the newest physician in town also got to serve, on a rotating basis, as the county coroner. Thanks to her work with Dr. Perper she met those responsibilities with confidence and speed that, hopefully, helped the sheriff’s department catch the bad guy (the really bad guy). It was a willingness to partner with others and be skeptical but open-minded in embracing humanity as well as science technology that helps us all advance.

You can’t make great and long-lasting progress in public service and in private life without help. It is important to recognize and appreciate that. My amazing robotic astronomy equipment comes with a price — great complexity. Despite all the learning and practicing I get to do in trying to master these technological wonders, there have been times when something goes wrong and alarm lights and sounds warn me of impending doom. I simply don’t know what to do — other than to call friends and neighbors. They are persons more adept and expert than I am. They almost universally jump at the chance to respond and share their knowledge.

In public service no matter how smart we think we are as elected or appointed officials, no matter how many votes we think we have in support of our ideas, and no matter how much we think the public likes us, we have to create our own “Army” to give us diverse and timely advice to be successful. We also have to thank our soldiers regularly. The arrogance to suggest that we know more than others (when we don’t) or that we don’t need advice (when we do) is highly dangerous.

The final thought that I hope readers will consider and act upon can happen regularly in your life just by wanting to make it happen.

Three nights ago three children visited the observatory and not only got to see wonderful sky things, but also got to take their own photographs of the moon, just like the main character in my children’s book, Evie and the Magic Telescope.  I hope they will not only proudly share those photos at school, but will look at the photos regularly and appreciate all that the world offers — all that the universe has in store for us.

The concept of inspiring the next generation and involving them in creating the future is a way to continue success for all of us.

It crashes directly, however, into arrogant behavior. What a tragedy it would be if the winner in this clash of the titans turned out to be arrogance over reason, and anger over compassion.

Can we learn a lot about how our careers and our lives can be enriched by looking out at the roof of a house or by looking out on a clear night at the incredible Orion Nebula? The answer is a profound "Yes." 

Use the tools of friendship, innovation and a willingness to joyfully explore. These tools help make much better public policy and are much more fun as well.