Could and should

There is a big difference between “should” and “could.”

I was in about fourth grade and was working on a group project with my classmates.

The exact details of the project have faded with time, but I remember becoming frustrated with my classmates for being dunderheads and not doing the project the way I wanted them to do it. After all, my way was the correct way and their method of completing our assignment was entirely wrong and if implemented would likely see us all flunked out of fourth grade and our families forced to go into hiding out of shame.

Needless to say, I had a very high opinion of myself at the time. I hope to think I have mellowed with age and experience.

I remember my classmates ignoring me when I was telling them what they “should do” and complaining to my teacher about it. This is when she took me aside and explained to me that the difference between should and could as being between handing down orders and offering suggestions.

There is a time for orders to be handed down. You should not play with fire. You should not get between a mamma bear and her cub. You should not get a tattoo of the name of the woman you met at the bar last night.

In most other situations, could is the better option recognizing there is more than one way to reach a desired goal. You could do something one way or you could do it another way. I picture it like the options mapping applications give. You could go from Medford to Gilman by way of Hwy 64 or you could take Hwy 13 to Hwy 2 to Hwy 53 down to Hwy 8 to Hwy 73 and then jog over on Hwy 64. One will way will get you there in less time than the average sitcom, while the other will take you most of a day and tank of gas, but by all means you decide which one to choose.

More often, the choice between alternatives is a lot less obvious. You could use wrist bands to show the people over 21 at an event, or you could raid your daughter’s craft bucket and use a butterfly stamp. Both options are equally valid, but dependent on the organizers’ preference and what they have on hand.

I was thinking about this over the weekend as I surfed through the various social media posts about Harvest Days activities.

There are ways to improve any event. Perfection doesn’t exist this side of heaven. There is also a time and a place to offer feedback, suggestions and a helping hand to make an event better in future years.

A fundamental flaw of social media is that while perched on their porcelain thrones it is easy to forget the distinction between should and could and slip from offering advice to telling people what to do without knowing all the details that led to a particular decision being made in the first place.

The staff at the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce along with their crew of volunteers should be proud of the job they did putting on this year’s Harvest Days Celebration. Every event throughout the weekend had smiling faces, laughter and a chance for people to let their hair down and have a good time.

There were also setbacks such as the dirtbags who scammed those on the spooky trail for “donations” with the intent to pocket the cash or the parents who got a little too enthusiastic in making sure their tykes got their share of candy at the candy drop.

Social media is filled with people who have never put on an event larger than a child’s birthday party who are quick to tell organizers how things should be done. Those same are strangely silent when the time comes to pitch in for a future event.

There are a limitless number of things that could be done provided you have the workers, the financial resources and the vision to carry them out. Leadership is about making choices and deciding where to focus resources to achieve the end goal. Leadership is also about showing up and lending a hand, and setting aside the fun of being at the party to make sure the party goes on without a hitch.

Congratulations on a job well done to the staff of the Medford Area Chamber Commerce and event organizers. We all should give you a round of applause for another phenomenal event.

Brian Wilson is News Editor at The Star News.