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Jesup, Georgia 31545

Ego. Its such a tiny word, but it can cause such a big stink. And unless you and Rip Van Winkle have been snoozing, surely youve caught wind of the ego-laced stench in our town. Theres lots of squabbling and finger-pointing. A referee needs to blow a whistle and call: Time out! Wayne County has so much going our way. We are in the crosshairs of two four-lane highways, near the airports and seaports of Savannah, Brunswick and Jacksonville. A magnificent river runs along our boundary, and we sit atop two coveted aquifers. While many places are thirsty, we have water. Dont forget our improved airport, a technical college, two rail lines, a magnificently renovated depot and a new hospital with a full complement of doctors. Thats just the start of the list, but what we are missing most is cooperative leadership. The petty fussing needs to stopnow. There is no room for egos in community development. The mantra of the 1980s, when Wayne County was pursuing the technical college, FCI-Jesup and employers for our vacant industrial buildings, was Robert W. Woodruff s motto. The Coca-Cola empire-builder said: Theres no limit to what can be accomplished when it

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team. Teamwork really does work. Maybe its time to bring out the boxing gloves. The thing that needs to be knocked out is egos. The City of Jesup and Wayne County must be on the same team if we are going to progress. The finger-pointing has to stopnow. You know the story about finger-pointing, but Ill repeat it. When you point your index finger at someone, blaming him or her, count the fingers pointing back at you. Most likely, therell be three fingers curled in your direction. And your thumb will be cocked back at you, too. Our leaders need to look in the mirror and ask themselves: Am I a part of the problem? Am I willing to be part of the solution? Can I put my ego aside for the betterment of our community? Theres one way to determine whether you are a leaderlook behind you. If no one is following, you are just taking a walk. Right now, it looks like we have too many elected-to-be leaders taking a walk in different directions. And they are walking away from any hope for a better future. Keep in mind what Robert W. Woodruff said: Theres no limit to what can be accomplished when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.

Theres no room for egos in community development

doesnt matter who gets the credit. Yes, a minority of the communitys leadership groused in those days. But the DINK majority was NeSMITH focused on Chairman one thing moving forward, creating jobs and hope. Jesup, Odum, Screven and Wayne County made a good name for themselves among the states leadership. And that reputation catapulted one success to another. Now, we seem to be determined to run in reverse. And as I watch from the sidelines, the childlike sandbox tussling reminds me of a strategy the late Clint Madray used when team members were at odds. The coach had two pairs of red Everlast boxing gloves. He did not allow dissension on the Yellow Jacket football team. One way he settled disagreements was to put two arguing players in a room and have them lace up the gloves. The rules were simple: No hitting below the belt When you come out, you better be arm-in-arm, on the same

My Opinion
MMM

dnesmith@cninewspapers.com