ArchivesOne of my greatest shortcomings as Mayor was that I sometimes failed to listen to my excellent staff out of ignorance and arrogance.
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1. Remember who you are - You represent the entire City, not the council members who appointed you. Acknowledge the beloved figure in whose shadow you live through good deeds, honest work and humble service.
2. It's the little things that git ya! - Don't open the door to getting stung for petty scandals such as credit cards, travel and vehicles. In all things, moderation and clear public purposes.
3. Be willing to make a deal - To get what you want sometimes means giving up things that mean alot to you. Your skills as a negotiator are equal only to your willingness to compromise.
4. Listen to your staff - You don't know it all. There are people around you who understand the government and politics in Nogales. They know the way, follow their advice.
5. Listen to the right people - Your work is not a zero-sum gain. Put yourself and the council in a win-win situation all the time. If you do that, Nogales always wins.
6. Put the people on your bus in the right seats - Get rid of the people at City Hall who should not be there. Help the people who are trying to help you, the council and the community.
As Jim Collins, author of "Good to Great" would say, First who, then what.
He would also say that you must avoid being the Fox who pursues many ends, knows many things and is scattered, pre-occupied and always contradictory.
Instead, be what Collins calls a Hedgehog, one who simplifies a complex world into basic principles that unifies all.
Hugh Holub used to boast to me that his enemies had nicknamed him "El Alacran" or the Scorpian.
The favorite food of the Hedgehog? Scorpians!
By the way, Scorpians are known to attract buzzards.
Clearly, Hugh is speaking from experience.
Good Luck!
Louie Valdez
Phoenix AZ
520-331-2856
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Comments
missmel wrote on Nov 13, 2009 1:44 PM:
as in:
"Speaking of spelling words incorrecly" you missed a "t"!
Run through word! That is what I do. :) "
valdezj001 wrote on Nov 8, 2009 9:16 PM:
”Courtesy of the Rules Committee and the way that the House operates, once they took a bill to the floor, they knew that they were gong to have the votes,” said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Mr. Reid,“In the Senate, we are going to have to go through all sorts of contortions.”
You are right, Manny, it does happen even to the best of us! :-)
Louie Valdez "
missmel wrote on Nov 3, 2009 1:30 PM:
Perhaps that is what Mr. Valdez meant by pointing out that the Hedgehog loves Scorpians...makes sense to me!
Scorpians may attract buzzards, but mostly they attract college students, rowdy bachleorettea and stressed out bankers.
Scorpians really do make sense in this comparison! Streesed out mayors should have a Scorpian once in a while. It is good for the soul. "
Manuel Coppola wrote on Oct 26, 2009 5:27 PM:
It's OK Louie, happens to the best of us. I'm sure it was a typo. "
Louie Valdez wrote on Oct 26, 2009 2:05 PM:
Thanks for catching that because my spell checker and this paper's editor did not catch it so kudos to you and thanks! "
Spelling Bee wrote on Oct 25, 2009 8:06 PM: