CARLTON FLETCHER: Don’t underestimate the power of one person

What a fool believes he sees, the wise man has the power to reason away.

— The Doobie Brothers

Being human beings, most of us take the path of least resistance. It’s in our DNA.

But history books are filled with stories of individuals who, through their own will and determination, altered the course of the world. They — the Leonardo da Vincis, Thomas Edisons, William Shakespeares, Mahatma Gandhis, Christopher Columbuses, Mother Teresas, Nelson Mandelas — not only refused to blindly follow the accepted dictates of their time, they set about proving them wrong and changing them.

Often singlehandedly.

There’s been so much talk lately of trying to bring about positive change in Albany, Georgia. There’s always talk. From business recruitment to improving infrastructure to downtown redevelopment to cleaning up litter to increased public safety, everyone has an idea on how to make things better. If you don’t believe me, just randomly ask the next person you bump into.

But as the King of Rock and Roll told us back in the day, the time has come for a little less conversation, a little more action.

Government leaders are notorious for hiring consultants. After much consideration and seeing a lot of these consultants in action, I’ve come to the conclusion that when I grow up — or if, as some mystics tell us, I’m granted another life — consulting is what I want to do for a living.

How cool would it be not to have to really do anything? You just tell other people what they should do, collect a big ole paycheck and move on to your next consulting assignment.

Unfortunately, most people in power in Albany and most people who have the resources to affect positive change here have settled into roles as consultants. The majority of the elected officials who are voted into office to represent the best interests of their constituents have proven to be big on talk, not so much on action.

The truth is, though, we are collectively talking our way into obscurity. By sitting on the sidelines, waiting for someone else to take action — but quick to criticize any who dares try — we are as complicit in our community’s demise as the criminals and the litterers and the con men and the politicians whose every move is dictated by an agenda that lines only his, her or their special interest group’s pockets.

Anyone can gripe. Anyone can rail against the efforts of others. Anyone can make political promises, get themselves elected and do nothing in office but create dissention.

But this community does not need anyone. It needs men and women of action, individuals willing to work with others or even stand alone and do what needs to be done to affect change.

It’s easy to drive by one of our many trash-strewn streets and criticize the slobs who make the messes. It’s another thing altogether to organize a group — or go solo — that picks up after the slobs and then, when they come right behind you and throw out more trash, go right behind them and pick it up again. And again.

It’s easy to write off development efforts by pointing out that the people who have enough money to make significant changes are not going to do so if they have to risk losing a penny of their fortune. It’s a little tougher, though, to put together a collective that could pool its less considerable resources and take that first step on faith. And, more importantly, it’s way easier to scoff at the efforts of such collectives than it is to support what they’re doing.

And while it’s a simple thing to go to a polling place on election day and vote for a candidate who has promised positive change, it takes a little more effort to organize a group to oppose that politician when he or she doesn’t keep their part of the bargain.

A man I admire and respect greatly — a man who, while an “outsider,” loves this community way more than most home-growns — told me recently it’s time for the people who care about this place that they call home to get up off the sidelines and take a stand. Instead of talking about others on the various easy-access media sites, it’s time that they became true activists, emphasis on active.

That “but I’m only one person” argument is not going to hold up if you’re truly interested in changing this community. I doubt very seriously that Bill Gates worried about what other computer nerds would think when he started his world-changing Microsoft empire. It’ll take a willingness to act when others oppose your every move, to hold onto your convictions in the face of criticism and a determination not to give up against seemingly insurmountable odds.

But you — and you and you and you — can make a difference here. It won’t be easy. But anything worth doing rarely is. If you’re content to remain a consultant, though, there’s a tried and true formula that you should consider. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.

Email Carlton Fletcher at [email protected].