The Arnold And Restraint Of Trade

Flying from our fair, and beknighted, city is seldom reminiscent of the glory days of air travel, with passengers dressed for success, thirsting for the inevitable martini, and enjoying repartee with what were then called stewardesses. Nowadays, as those standing on the brink of eternity like to say, not only is the glamor gone, the experience can become downright ugly.

It gets even tougher in that awkward period between Winter and Spring, when Arnold Schwartzenegger's Sports Festival comes to town. Our little airport, served primarily by commuter sardine cans designed around the ergonomics of indigenous Jivaro peoples of the Amazon Basin, suddenly fills with 300-pound behemoths, who overflow available seats while partaking of carry-on repasts of super-healthy fruits and nuts.

I've given up traveling during these events - the muscles and I have little in common to chat about.

Actually, The Arnold is a smashing success story. From an intimate gathering of disfigured human beings, oiled up and clad in attire that would get them arrested in any Islamic nation, the event has become the country's largest multi-sport festival, with 18,000 athletes, 70 sports (including fencing and chess), a fitness expo, and a kids and teens expo, which includes a talent component.

The activities can no longer fit in our convention center, and spills over into buildings on the State Fair grounds, as well.

So the vision continues to take shape and get fleshed (no pun intended) out. But, here's the takeaway for those whose life's work is leading an organization. Having a grand vision, some picture in the mind's eye of an end state, does not mean blowing the doors off to get from now, Point A, to Utopia, Point Z by this time next year.

The more sure path is to build slowly, gaining confidence and credibility incrementally. Progress continues, year on year, to reach an end state - and what is learned along the way may well refine how the final stage looks and acts. Think about it.

Little Dorothy and her cohort of a Lion,a Scarecrow, a Tin Man, and an ornamental dog knew they needed to reach Emerald City; they could even see it from Munchkinland. But, it took time, challenge, setbacks, and a Yellow Brick Road path to follow.

Our journey is not all that much different, is it?