Comments on: Passion Matters http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:03:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-408 Mary Jo Asmus Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:08:36 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-408 Daryl, I appreciate the guts (and you can have all the glory!). I've always believed that you and Mark are the "rule" rather than the exception, and it is inspiring to hear you speak of your noble calling. Thanks so much for stopping by and adding to the commentary. Daryl, I appreciate the guts (and you can have all the glory!). I’ve always believed that you and Mark are the “rule” rather than the exception, and it is inspiring to hear you speak of your noble calling. Thanks so much for stopping by and adding to the commentary.

]]> By: Daryl Delabbio http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-407 Daryl Delabbio Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:12:02 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-407 Thanks for the post, MJ! I debated about whether I should post something, but as they say, "no guts, no glory." Having been in local government management for over 32 years, I can say that the vast majority of the individuals I have been privileged to call peers are talented, top notch professionals and leaders. We do it because we believe that public service (and we consider ourselves public servants) is a noble calling. And in reference to one of your posts, I requested a 360-degree evaluation and coaching in 2008 not because I am interested in moving to another job with a higher salary, but because I have been with my current organization for 14 years (and in the community for 25 years) and wanted to improve my performance as I continue to serve in my current capacity. I suspect others have done the same. And I agree with another post, a $280,000 salary is the exception, not the rule. I have an organization with 1,850 employees and a $165 million budget. My salary is $155,000. Thanks again for the post. Thanks for the post, MJ! I debated about whether I should post something, but as they say, “no guts, no glory.” Having been in local government management for over 32 years, I can say that the vast majority of the individuals I have been privileged to call peers are talented, top notch professionals and leaders. We do it because we believe that public service (and we consider ourselves public servants) is a noble calling. And in reference to one of your posts, I requested a 360-degree evaluation and coaching in 2008 not because I am interested in moving to another job with a higher salary, but because I have been with my current organization for 14 years (and in the community for 25 years) and wanted to improve my performance as I continue to serve in my current capacity. I suspect others have done the same. And I agree with another post, a $280,000 salary is the exception, not the rule. I have an organization with 1,850 employees and a $165 million budget. My salary is $155,000. Thanks again for the post.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-406 Mary Jo Asmus Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:08:50 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-406 Mark, thank you for stopping back and adding that additional information. You affirm what I know of the majority of individuals who choose your profession. One of my first experiences into introduction with the individuals leading our local governments was at an annual International City Manager's Association conference. I was quite taken with the caliber of dedicated professional managers (leaders) I met there; and I continue to believe that after several years of work with people like yourself. I can see that you and your staff are the kind of people that I write of in this blog. Thanks again. Mark, thank you for stopping back and adding that additional information. You affirm what I know of the majority of individuals who choose your profession. One of my first experiences into introduction with the individuals leading our local governments was at an annual International City Manager’s Association conference. I was quite taken with the caliber of dedicated professional managers (leaders) I met there; and I continue to believe that after several years of work with people like yourself. I can see that you and your staff are the kind of people that I write of in this blog. Thanks again.

]]> By: Mark Peterson http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-405 Mark Peterson Sat, 24 Oct 2009 01:24:10 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-405 I have been in the business of local government management for 25 years, the past 10 in my current position. I have been blessed during my career to serve elected officials who were/are, by and large, honorable, dedicated and respectful of professional staff. It is for that reason that I have not experienced any significant degree of burn out during my career and I still look forward to going to work everyday. I am also blessed to be surrounded by a team of professional staff that share my passion for public service. Their commitment and enthusiasm has helped to keep my own passion fueled. I do believe that public service is indeed a noble calling and I feel honored to be able to make a profound difference in the lives of the residents of my community. I wholeheartedly agree with you Mary Jo that the vast majority of local government managers in this country share my passion for public service and are some of the most talented and innovative business people that you will find. I sincerely appreciate your kind and thoughtful affirmation of the dedication and passion that most of the men and women who serve as local government managers possess. I have been in the business of local government management for 25 years, the past 10 in my current position. I have been blessed during my career to serve elected officials who were/are, by and large, honorable, dedicated and respectful of professional staff. It is for that reason that I have not experienced any significant degree of burn out during my career and I still look forward to going to work everyday. I am also blessed to be surrounded by a team of professional staff that share my passion for public service. Their commitment and enthusiasm has helped to keep my own passion fueled. I do believe that public service is indeed a noble calling and I feel honored to be able to make a profound difference in the lives of the residents of my community. I wholeheartedly agree with you Mary Jo that the vast majority of local government managers in this country share my passion for public service and are some of the most talented and innovative business people that you will find. I sincerely appreciate your kind and thoughtful affirmation of the dedication and passion that most of the men and women who serve as local government managers possess.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-404 Mary Jo Asmus Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:39:01 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-404 Mark, it's very nice to hear from someone actually doing the work, as well as your thoughts on the issue of salary as well as passion. There is a web site with median salary for city managers in tye U.S.by years experience at http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=City_Manager/Salary. Your comments certainly bear the data out. I'd love to hear more. How about burn out? Does your passion for what you do help to get you through these tough times? Mark, it’s very nice to hear from someone actually doing the work, as well as your thoughts on the issue of salary as well as passion. There is a web site with median salary for city managers in tye U.S.by years experience at http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=City_Manager/Salary. Your comments certainly bear the data out.

I’d love to hear more. How about burn out? Does your passion for what you do help to get you through these tough times?

]]> By: Mark Peterson http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-403 Mark Peterson Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:45:29 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-403 As a municipal manager, I can tell you that very, very few of us command an annual salary in excess of $200k. If the City Manager of Reno makes $270,000 per year, he is likely one of the highest paid in our profession. In my case, I manage a municipality of 50,000 with an annual budget of $85 million and 400 full time employees. My annual salary is $150,000. I can tell you that, in the corporate world, that would be the salary of a mid-level manager. Please understand, I am not complaining. I consider myself well paid and I could have made the choice to pursue a more lucrative career. I am happy with my choice and I love my work. But, given the level of responsibility that I have and the complexity of the job, I can't imagine that any reasonable person would suggest that I am making a BIG salary or that I am over compensated. As a municipal manager, I can tell you that very, very few of us command an annual salary in excess of $200k. If the City Manager of Reno makes $270,000 per year, he is likely one of the highest paid in our profession. In my case, I manage a municipality of 50,000 with an annual budget of $85 million and 400 full time employees. My annual salary is $150,000. I can tell you that, in the corporate world, that would be the salary of a mid-level manager. Please understand, I am not complaining. I consider myself well paid and I could have made the choice to pursue a more lucrative career. I am happy with my choice and I love my work. But, given the level of responsibility that I have and the complexity of the job, I can’t imagine that any reasonable person would suggest that I am making a BIG salary or that I am over compensated.

]]> By: Mary Jo Asmus http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-402 Mary Jo Asmus Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:15:44 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-402 Bret, thanks for stopping back with your thoughts. I admit to being confused about the point you are making, and don't think it will get through to my brain cells today. I'd love to have a conversation with you about it sometime! Siraj, thanks for your additions to this too. And I agree. I think we get what we look for - and the news media is looking for negative stories; its what sells. I have the great advantage, in this case, of being able to see the good stories about local government that many don't get to see. If I've been able to at least get you to consider that there is another side to what the media reports, that makes me very happy. Wally, thanks. You've captured the dynamic succinctly. Bret, thanks for stopping back with your thoughts. I admit to being confused about the point you are making, and don’t think it will get through to my brain cells today. I’d love to have a conversation with you about it sometime!

Siraj, thanks for your additions to this too. And I agree. I think we get what we look for – and the news media is looking for negative stories; its what sells. I have the great advantage, in this case, of being able to see the good stories about local government that many don’t get to see. If I’ve been able to at least get you to consider that there is another side to what the media reports, that makes me very happy.

Wally, thanks. You’ve captured the dynamic succinctly.

]]> By: Wally Bock http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-401 Wally Bock Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:49:46 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-401 I don't know about the average salary of a city manager and how Reno compares, but I think that the city manager situation is qualitatively different from the teacher situation in ways beyond pay. If you are a want to be a teacher and you want to teach in your home town, the odds are that you can, whether your hometown is NY City or Ruby, SC. For elementary school and most high school subject matter teachers, there are lots of options. But there's only one city manager per city and not every city has a city manager. That sets up a dynamic where the primary loyalty of the city manager almost has to be to the profession and not the place. That's reinforced by the fact that most city manager career paths involve moving up by moving on to a new city. I don’t know about the average salary of a city manager and how Reno compares, but I think that the city manager situation is qualitatively different from the teacher situation in ways beyond pay. If you are a want to be a teacher and you want to teach in your home town, the odds are that you can, whether your hometown is NY City or Ruby, SC. For elementary school and most high school subject matter teachers, there are lots of options. But there’s only one city manager per city and not every city has a city manager. That sets up a dynamic where the primary loyalty of the city manager almost has to be to the profession and not the place. That’s reinforced by the fact that most city manager career paths involve moving up by moving on to a new city.

]]> By: Siraj Malik http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-400 Siraj Malik Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:14:24 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-400 Hi Mary Jo, I think that this post brings up some really good points that I never really considered about how the public services sector operates under the public's microscope. I think that too often the only thing that we hear about is the negatives of public services, such as the crooked cop or the corrupt politician. Sometimes the saying no news is good news doesn`t hold enough weight, since we need to hear the positives to offset the very few negative things that we hear. I read recently somewhere that healthy marital relationships require someone to say five positives for each negative, would you think that this is why someone like me would have not thought about the good service that are provided by public service? In a way I think that the media has brainwashed me with so much negative news about scandals and corruption that I don`t realize the good that so many people do that can be spoiled by the wrong of one person. Hi Mary Jo,

I think that this post brings up some really good points that I never really considered about how the public services sector operates under the public’s microscope. I think that too often the only thing that we hear about is the negatives of public services, such as the crooked cop or the corrupt politician. Sometimes the saying no news is good news doesn`t hold enough weight, since we need to hear the positives to offset the very few negative things that we hear. I read recently somewhere that healthy marital relationships require someone to say five positives for each negative, would you think that this is why someone like me would have not thought about the good service that are provided by public service? In a way I think that the media has brainwashed me with so much negative news about scandals and corruption that I don`t realize the good that so many people do that can be spoiled by the wrong of one person.

]]> By: Bret Simmons http://www.aspire-cs.com/passion-matters/comment-page-1#comment-399 Bret Simmons Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:37:32 +0000 http://www.aspire-cs.com/?p=401#comment-399 My point about the Reno City manager (and many other government "servants") is he is a professional, a hired hand. I'm sure he loves his job, may even be passionate, but his heart is not with THIS community - it is with pursuing advancement in his profession. Now don't misunderstand me, I think that is just fine. They perform a valuable function and people that work hard should reap the rewards of their labor. But I just don't want to caste these professionals in the same light as those home-grown folks that go off to school and then return to serve *their* communities, their friends, their neighbors. That is a different kind of passion and a different kind of community servant. Our city manager might have professional passion, but the teachers in my kids' schools have that and real community passion. Thanks! Bret My point about the Reno City manager (and many other government “servants”) is he is a professional, a hired hand. I’m sure he loves his job, may even be passionate, but his heart is not with THIS community – it is with pursuing advancement in his profession. Now don’t misunderstand me, I think that is just fine. They perform a valuable function and people that work hard should reap the rewards of their labor. But I just don’t want to caste these professionals in the same light as those home-grown folks that go off to school and then return to serve *their* communities, their friends, their neighbors. That is a different kind of passion and a different kind of community servant. Our city manager might have professional passion, but the teachers in my kids’ schools have that and real community passion. Thanks! Bret

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