May 2024
I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.
-Rosa Parks
Knowing. How does knowing or being aware of the factors help us become more intentional about what and more confident about the how of our decisions? By developing our leadership programs and training our facilitators, I have become more thoughtful about naming what, how, and why of my actions. I am more conscious of the process that goes into how I make decisions for our organization.
So what do I know? I know that Platform offers one of the most comprehensive and deliberate programs for youth and women in helping them determine who and what they are about as they engage their communities. I know that given the right opportunities, Platform can and will grow. I just haven’t figured out the marketing strategy to open up more of these opportunities for growth. BUT I also know that my priorities needed to shift this year to care for myself and my family. Since I have a few health struggles, I know that I have failed to prioritize my well-being. So I need to put myself at the top of the list this year. Then, of course, I need to focus on my mother whose dementia has worsened and is needing more of my time and energy. Based on this observation, my list of priorities this year has been:
My overall health
My mother’s well-being
My paying job - I need money and more importantly, I do care about our students at the school.
Given these 3 major priorities, my other responsibilities and roles need to take a back seat which is why I am relying more on my team. BUT again, I need to redefine who makes up the team and add a couple more volunteers or part time interns who can contribute to areas where we are lacking - community organizer, grant writer, and program manager. How can we accomplish all of this with a very small budget and my limited energy/time? This is the challenge I have before me as we enter into the month of May. Will we be able to meet this significant challenge? This I don’t know but hopefully will be able to figure out our challenges in our biannual board meeting.
Knowing our potential, needs, and the limits of my ability helps me become more certain of the decisions I have made this year.
Sam Joo
CEO and Founder
April 30, 2024