Welcome to "The Near Term"!

I want to welcome everyone to my new blog, "The Near Term."

First, let me explain the title of my blog: I have retired after 31 years of working with the state of North Carolina and its community college system. I started in 1983 (just months before my oldest daughter, Tessa, was born). Now that I have time, I wanted to do more consulting work, which I'd been doing off and on for many, many years. The title of this blog is the same as I am using for my consulting business. So welcome to both my blog and consulting!

That's my first point: my second point in this blog to explore more fully what it is I have done and wish to do in the future in terms of my consulting. I used the name, "Near Term," for many reasons and I want to share some of them now.

"The Near Term" suggests the immediacy of what I see as the "new normal" today and the timeliness with which I will respond to any one's needs. Time is moving forward at a breakneck speed and if we do not stay on top of time and changes it constantly throws at us, we will simply slip further and further behind.

Also, "The Near Term" suggests my focus on education and where it is, where is seems to be going, and--if possible--to adjust for the "brave new world" of the 21st century. Note that I added "if possible" above.  Though I am convinced we must change and I am willing to facilitate change, I am--at times--pessimistic about the willingness of our organizations to affect change in a meaningful manner (I will talk more about this point in another blog).

So welcome to my new blog and I hope you visit "The Near Term" often!