To be an integral part of a productive society, and especially women in this society, there is a profound need to help each other get things done, and get it done together. Bickering and name-calling amongst us about the tiniest of slights doesn’t help the cause. Don’t get me wrong. We are allowed to disagree, but when the disagreement makes a project stop all together, when is that productive? Of course, men do this, too, sometimes on a larger scale. But when either sex lets things get personal, democracy stops in its tracks, sometimes at the expense of millions of people.

As individuals we must get things done. When we get together as a group, it is equally important to come to an agreement of what is best for the good of the group, without taking it personally when it is a different idea. Not everyone is going to agree to the methodology, but if everyone can learn to listen to the ideas without any preconceived notions, projects will come to fruition.

I wrote this in Chapter 1 of my book, Silver Element and I still believe it today:

“I may not have the most beautiful yard or the most immaculate house, but I get done with what needs doing. This theory plays into every aspect of my life. I make effective changes that work in all of my endeavors. I organize my life in little chunks of time. And, when I need help, I work it out with another who needs something from me—they get a task done for me, and I help them with something they need. Together, we create a bartering system that allows us to become efficient in our tasks.”

“What we, as psychologists, social workers, and therapists have to understand is how to have order in our lives. If we can’t show our clients that we are healthy, organized, and complete tasks on time, how can we expect our clients to emulate us?” Caitlin asked. “We want to lead by example. How can we commit to work side-by-side with clients if we are not doing all the tasks better than them? It is up to us to make changes in our lives and move towards a global picture of the future. We can learn how to be self-sufficient, and make a difference in our communities. And, when disaster strikes, we can be there to help each other out. We become the role models.”

I worked in government a long time, and found it difficult to be a part of things that weren’t productive. Sometimes my suggestions were rebuffed, not because they were wrong, but because they sounded politically incorrect and words needed to be changed. Sometimes, I had to make decisions that were good for the whole of society, without worrying about what anyone in the smaller group wanted or believed in. It wasn’t always a popular decision.

That is why today, I am asking individuals as well as the current political leaders, whether small group or large, to do the same thing, to make right decisions, regardless of what their constituents believe or what the media portrays. It’s not about being re-elected. It’s not about the glory. Sometimes you just have to stand up for the people and their cause and what is the right thing to do.

Author and writer George Takei said this in his book, Oh Myyyy! There Goes the Internet:

“If leadership requires a fired-up sense of purpose and imagination, it also demands a profound connection to the society to be led.”

In conclusion, Like the old Nike Ad says: Just Do It. It’s important for each of us to create a To Do List, on both the micro and macro level. What needs to get done today? What needs to get done for the week? What needs to get done for the month? The next year? And then post it on the refrigerator or somewhere you’ll see it every morning to help organize your day.

Be a better leader. Live with your faults, but make the right decisions. Do the best you can in the world you have. Don’t expect someone to do it for you. And when they do, thank them profusely and do something equally important for them. Ignore the impossible and get involved. Create a better world for everyone.