What Can I Learn from This?

Working in the library and being exposed to many good (and some so-so) books has, at times, caused me to look for lessons in management from other sources. Perhaps it's because I know those good titles will be available so I grasp the "Teachable Moment" in my own life away from reading. But here is a lesson I caught just last night while watching a movie I have seen more than once.

The hero was a person who refused to play by the rules, who was a risk taker. As a pre-teen he steals a car, as a young adult he gets in a bar fight with 4 other guys, in college he figured out an answer that was "outside the box" on a test he did not like, at work he challenges the decision of his bosses and in the end, saved the day and was made the captain of his own ship (ok, it was a movie). But as I watched the last scene play out the thought struck me - would I have done that? And the answer was difficult to listen to - no, I would have played it safe. But he saw what needed to be done, resolved to take the difficult course of action with its inherent risks, and laying it all on the line, saw his decision through.

Being a successful entrepreneurial librarian means that we must also be willing and able to do this. We have to formulate our vision for the future of our library - really see with clarity with it can be, what it should be. Be able to articulate that vision to those closest to us and (here's the hard part) be willing to lay it all on the line to make that vision possible. I will admit that I had such an opportunity several years ago and while the intial seeing and articulating the vision was not a problem, I couldn't follow through. I was not willing to take the risk needed to carry that vision off.

Would I do this now? Can't say, not until I find myself in that same position again.  But I can say that I will grasp the situation better, will understand what needs to be done and the implications of not doing it with more depth.  How about you? What happens when you have to "sell" your vision? Think about it now, consider it before you have to make that decision. 

The movie? Take a guess