Have you ever had one of those weeks when you are exhausted and then suddenly realize that it is only Thursday? Last week started with a 2-day retreat to determine how to start moving forward with our strategic plan and get to a place that positions us to accomplish our goals. While I think we all left tired and a bit brain-dead because of the intense focus, it was a good use of time and we made some really good progress on goals 1, 4, 5, 6, 10 and 15. I especially want to thank those who participated that were not members of the development group. Despite not being part of the original group that assembled the plan, these people (County Directors, REC directors, Strategic Initiatives, Statewide Programs, Staff Assembly, Specialists, AES faculty and campus leadership) jumped right in with thoughtful contemplation and great ideas.

It was particularly helpful to talk about goal 5 and what the purpose of the goal is and isn't. Goal 5 started as a key strategy embedded within a different goal and became a key strategy, in part, because UC ANR personnel have expressed feelings of having too much on their plate but also because we (UC ANR) recognize that new areas of research and stakeholder challenges are emerging all the time. So, given the changing needs of the people of California, it makes sense to take a step back every now and then to make sure we are directing efforts appropriately to reach the vision that has been laid out. For UC ANR, that is likely the 2025 Vision. Goal 5 isn't about reducing the effort of the division or making the pie smaller but rather ensuring that program goals are aligned with the vision and we have the appropriate amount of effort directed towards different programs in order to attain the vision.

While the work needed to get through goal 5 is daunting, it is an opportunity to focus what we as individuals do and have a greater collective effort towards reaching our goal. In spite of the work ahead of us, I see this as exciting because it's not about cutting things but rather about improving what we do, how we do it, the impact it has, and the toll it takes on each of us. Having been places and observed other places where this ‘step back' didn't occur until after there were threats to the budget, UC ANR is in an enviable position because we can review our efforts as a means of positioning us for growth and greater impact in improving the lives of 40 million Californians who are our clientele.

The drive back from the retreat certainly helped me think through everything I heard. What helped a bit more was a bit of a diversion I took to spend a few minutes at Pt. Reyes. Nothing like water and elephant seals to clear the mind.

The week finished with pretty much the same topic as it started. The Statewide Program and Institute Directors met to talk about the approach for working through goal 5. No doubt the workload is large and the timeline short but that ‘push' to get things underway means we are better positioned, sooner, to reach those goals and hopefully address that sense of a never-ending ‘to-do list' coupled with being pulled in far too many directions that we all experience.

Here's hoping that this week brings as many useful insights as last week did.