A Career in Local Government: Is It Still Worth It? Kevin C.
Duggan ICMA West Coast Regional Director Slide 2 Gloom and Doom?
Slide 3 Labor Strife/Conflict Slide 4 Slide 5 Public Distrust/Tea
Party Slide 6 Slide 7 Public Pension Controversy Slide 8 More
Demands/Fewer Resources Slide 9 Budget Cutting Service Reductions
Layoffs Slide 10 Slide 11 Slide 12 The Great Recession Slide 13 The
New Normal Slide 14 Fewer Entry and Promotional Opportunities Slide
15 Slide 16 YES, BUT Slide 17 Does Misery Love Company? Slide 18
Government is Not Optional Slide 19 If it Really is the New Normal
it will eventually become Normal Slide 20 The Value of Meaning and
Purpose Slide 21 Feelings of Meaning and Social Connection
Undergird Happiness Michael Norton: Harvard Researcher on The
Psychology of Happiness Slide 22 Slide 23 Slide 24 Slide 25 Slide
26 Slide 27 Public Service Provides a Clear Connection Between an
Individuals contribution and a Public Benefit Slide 28 Slide 29 Bob
ONeill: The Coming Decade in Local Government Local Governments are
Consistently Rated Most Favorably by Citizens. Despite Anti-Tax
RhetoricNearly 70% of Local Initiatives Approved. Most People Want
to Live In A Quality Community With Great Services. Easier to
Communicate to Constituents What They are Paying For. Easier to
Engage Citizens/Taxpayers in Priority Setting Slide 30 Some
Suggestions: Slide 31 Connect the Dots Between Your Work and the
Work of Your Organization and the Quality of Life in Your Community
Slide 32 Know Your Story Believe Your Story Tell Your Story Slide
33 Know Your Audiences and Consistently Tell Your Organizations
Story Slide 34 Communicate to Every Employee Their Role in
Communicating the Meaning and Value of the Work of the Organization
Slide 35 Adam Davis: DHM Research--Portland Show Openness to
Change/Reform Demonstrate Your Ability to Respond to Community
Priorities Making Friends One Customer at a Time Tell Stories of
How Your Government is Improving the Community/Citizens Lives
Demonstrate Accountability and Transparency Slide 36 Some Personal
Coping Strategies Slide 37 Keep EVERYTHING in Perspective Slide 38
Slide 39 Take Career Risks (But For the Right Reasons) Slide 40
Slide 41 Its a Marathon, Not a Sprint Slide 42 Slide 43 Maintain
Balance: Attitude; Time; Life Slide 44 Slide 45 We cant always
control what happens to us, but we do control how we respond Slide
46 Slide 47 Its Only Business, Dont Take It Personally (or make it
personal) Slide 48 Slide 49 SOMETIMES LIFE HITS YOU IN THE HEAD
WITH A BRICK. DONT LOSE FAITH. IM CONVINCED THAT THE ONLY THING
THAT KEPT ME GOING WAS THAT I LOVED WHAT I DID. YOUVE GOT TO FIND
WHAT YOU LOVE..YOUR WORK IS GOING TO FILL A LARGE PART OF YOUR
LIFE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO BE TRULY SATISFIED IS TO DO WHAT YOU
BELIEVE IS GREAT WORK. AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO GREAT WORK IS TO LOVE
WHAT YOU DO. IF YOU HAVENT FOUND IT YET, KEEP LOOKING. DONT SETTLE.
Slide 50 Slide 51 Showing Up is 90% of Success Slide 52 Slide 53
LIFE, WELL RUN ICMAs Campaign to Explain and Promote the Value of
Professional Local Government Management Slide 54
