Roller Coasters, Revolving Doors and Reflux
Reflections on 37 Years of Public Service
1st Edition
Published on 20. September 2022
158 pages
978-1-940300-62-7 (ISBN)
Description
Government careers aren't for the weak at heart.This book was created as a guide for those considering a career in Public Service and those who have already answered the call. Al Braithwaite has created a compendium of advice for organizations and Public Servants, from his 37 years of personal experience.This reflection of a lifelong career experience and copious advice for those new to, and considering public service...effectively highlights the need to serve the public interest for the common good. --Dr. Stephen Aikins, Associate Professor in the School of Public Affairs
More details
Person
After graduating from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida (1979), and not being sure what he wanted to do for a living, he started a professional career as a High School Math Teacher/Coach. After six years, he then decided to become a lifetime public servant, getting a job in the nearby City of Madeira Beach. While employed, he pursued and acquired his MPA (Master of Public Administration) degree. During his career, he has been everything from a Recreation Supervisor to the City Manager, for four different municipalities, all in Pinellas County. This is a story about Roller Coasters encountered, Revolving Doors endured, and Reflux suffered along the way. The historical account includes episodes of crisis management, natural disasters, a pandemic and a cybersecurity "incident" that made international news, just to name a few. Enjoy the journey!
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Foreword
- Introduction
- The Allure of Public Service
- We All Need a Code to Live By
- The Common Good
- WORDS OF WISDOM - Part I
- 1. Everything Counts
- 2. The Truth Hurts
- 3. Convenient Morality
- 4. Don't Judge a Book By its Cover
- 5. Pursuit of Perfection
- 6. Be Great with People
- 7. Western Civilization (Revere your Elders)
- 8. All Things Considered - or Consider All Things
- WORDS OF WISDOM - Part 2
- 9. Big Fish, Little Pond or Vice versa
- 10. "Stuff" Flows Downhill
- 11. Financial Details
- 12. Knowing Better
- ALL THAT IS RIGHT
- 13. Servant Leadership
- 14. Not so common, but its Good
- ALL THAT IS WRONG
- 15. You Can't Have it Both Ways
- 16. Thematic Hypocrisy
- 17. Business Models (in Government)
- 18. Other Problems
- ROLLER COASTERS
- 19. Herds of Cattle
- 20. Politics - Perception IS Reality
- REVOLVING DOORS
- 21. Beef Turnovers
- 22. If you get "run"
- 23. The "Go to Hell" Fund
- REFLUX
- 24. Silos
- 25. Media 1, Truth 0 - Not Even Close
- REFLECTIONS
- 26. A Pan-What-ic???
- 27. Process versus Outcome
- 28. The Kids
- 29. Women are more effective
- 30. Reality is for the Private Sector
- REFLECTIONS
- THE FINISH LINE
- 31. It's Over
- 32. Embracing Irrelevance
- Closing
- Notes
- About the Author
