Good to Great

In Jim Collins book, Good to Great, companies were identified which asked themselves, "What service or product can we produce and be the best in the world." In this age of mediocrity, they wished to identify what had the most important opportunity to impact their business.

Collins went on to say that the reason we don't have great government is because we have good government. Same holds true for most businesses, we have good businesses. Could the same argument be made about schools and colleges? We are sometimes our own worse enemy. Because we are many times satisfied by "good enough" we don't put into place those practices that would make these organizations truly great.

During our Executive Committee meeting on Thursday, February 1, we started identifying what we thought could be the single thing that sets Big Stone Gap apart. We had a lot of discussion about being the best place in the coalfields or the LENOWISCO Planning District to live. What do we need to do as a community to be greatest place to live in the region? Could it be more housing opportunities, a premiere park system, or maybe scholarship availability for our youth?

What sets the Big Stone Gap community apart?

This is what our partnership is all about. Getting the GAP to discuss what is important and how do we make it better. I hope you will think about this and start offering your thoughts. We cannot afford to be apathetic. We've got to identify the opportunities, roll up our sleeves and get to work! Some have already begun that work. When you see them on the street or in the grocery store, thank them, and ask what you can do to help them.

The Executive Committee plans to pull together the full membership of Bridging the Gap soon to
review our discussions and to verify we are all on the same page as we move forward with planning. Keep checking in on the progress of this committee as well as the others that will be posted here.