Treasures

September 12th, 2011 by Thom Peters

When my oldest son was 16, he bought our neighbor’s 1989 Ford Bronco II. That was 10 years ago and my theory at the time was he would turn 18, take it to college with him, graduate, get a good job, marry and today would be driving a new minivan full of my grand kids. Nice theory.

Since then, my son has traveled extensively and the car sits in our driveway. My wife and I have often thought he should get rid of it, but it was hard knowing the special connection to home it had for him as he served his country and traveled far away. While the years have not been kind to the Bronco, he has such a bond with it and has learned a lot trying to keep it running.

So what is this connection we have with things? Why do we keep things that we no longer use, need or even want? Why is it easier to tuck some things away than to make a decision about them once and for all? (For you YMCAs with large basements, go down and count the pieces of exercise equipment – most of it broken – stored there!)

The question is: Is this a treasure that brings back wonderful memories, or just a discarded item that you haven’t rid yourself of?

And what about your organization? What are the important things you hang on to – objects, programs, procedures, buildings? If they are treasures, hang on to them tight and celebrate them every once in a while. But, if they are broken or past their useful life, maybe it’s time to give them a proper burial and move on.

At the recent Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, Bill Hybels talked about the life-cycle of a program or ministry. As great at a program may be, it will go through stages and will eventually decline. As he put it, “Nothing rocks forever.”

The real treasures of your organization are the programs that rock, the volunteers that are fired up, the staff that are committed, and the facility or equipment that helps more than it hinders.

Where are the treasures in your organization? And what are the aging Ford Broncos that should find a new home?