To change the world, even if only one step at a time, may seem a daunting task, but it is not an impossible task.  The key to success is foresight and the trim tab. 

If you see a giant multi-ton boulder sitting precariously on a hillside over looking your house, you do not wait until the boulder is traveling at 100 MPH and heading toward your front door.. 

 If you wish to change the course of a giant supertanker to avoid an obstacle, you move the rudder well in advance of encountering the object.  The rudder on a supertanker is so large that it weighs more than most other ships.  It takes a lot of energy to move the rudder.  That is why the rudder has a rudder – a trim tab.  If you change the angle of the trim tab you will change the angle of the rudder and the ship will change direction.

 As a change agent you must look for the trim tab.  You must learn how to change it and how changing it will affect the ship.  This does not make the change agent task easy – just feasible.  The task of finding the trim tab, understanding it, and moving it may prove very difficult.  If it does not prove difficult then others will have already found it.  If you and they are in agreement as to what is best then there may be nothing for you to do.  If you and they are not in agreement as to what is better, the struggle to control the trim tab may be your challenge.

 Readings:

 Exercises:

1. Look at the various organizations to which you belong.  Think of them as if they were a ship. 
   1. Is the ship changing directions? If so, who or what has turned the rudder.  Why? Is there a trim tab?
   2. Is the ship not changing directions?

                                                               i.      Is it because the rudder is frozen in place? Why is it frozen? Does it matter?

                                                             ii.      Is it still the right course? How do you know?

2. Study history. 
   1. Find a society or organization that changed course.

                                                               i.      Who changed the rudder? Why?

                                                             ii.      Was there a trim tab? If not, find a historical situation where there was one.

2. Find a society or organization that failed to change course and met with disaster.

                                                               i.      At what point was it no longer possible to change the rudder? When was it too late?

                                                             ii.      If someone had the proper foresight what could have been done?

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(C) 2005-2014 Wayne M. Angel.  All rights reserved.