Mitigating the Madness This March

I could dedicate a month of newsletters to Razorback basketball.  I’m an Arkansas child of the 90s. In 1994 we had the White House, a little retail shop in Bentonville was booming, and we won the National Championship with the coolest coach and the craziest brand of basketball.

40 Minutes of Hell! Nolan’s Hogs would get rollin’, trappin’, and runnin’. Our opponent would get fatigued, play out of character and sometimes lose their cool (ahem…Larry Johnson.)  The experts picked against us and we proved them wrong.  We were prepared for what we did, and no one else was. 

So, what does this have to do with community, economy and leading an organization? Well, I bet you’d take 40 minutes of Hell over the overwhelming 24 hour news cycle of doom and drama.

I’m not advocating for disengagement. Far from it. But keeping the composure required to make a difference in your organization and your community takes preparation and adherence to a strategy.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and leaders don’t have the luxury of distraction. You have to practice how to stay on your game.  Plan your work, work your plan.

Now more than ever, leaders should focus on what truly matters to your communities and your core missions.

You know the crowd will get loud. Tune out distractions, make sense of real challenges, and keep moving forward.

Noise Cancellation

National events and policy shifts will affect us, but we should approach them with clear-headed strategy, not reactionary panic. Focus on real solutions, not political drama.

Filter Your Information Diet – Limit doom-scrolling and partisan punditry

Stay informed on what directly impacts your work and community.

Stick to trusted sources and scheduled check-ins rather than allowing news to control your day.

Focus on Local Impact – advocate for your community and keep building.

Lead by Example – Stay calm, steady, and mission-driven. Respond to uncertainty with strategy instead of stress.

Build Bridges, Not Walls – Encourage civil conversations in your workplace and community, focusing on common ground rather than division.

Awareness Over Obsession

Schedule “Strategic Intelligence” Time – Set aside 30 minutes a day to scan relevant policy updates, economic trends, or industry news. Keeping a consistent, time-bound routine prevents reactive distractions.

Substance beats spectacle. Focus on policies with impact not the headline grabbers.

Leverage Trusted Networks – Your chamber, industry groups, and community organizations can often make sense of what matters most to your daily life. Plug into those resources instead of sorting through the noise alone.

Seize Momentum, Counter Negativity

Celebrate Small Wins – Share good news in staff meetings, newsletters, and social media.

Double Down on What’s Working – If a program, policy, or strategy is making a real difference, find ways to expand its impact.

Keep the Big Picture in View – Short-term distractions come and go, but focused, long-term leadership drives real progress.

Execute Your Game Plan

With focus and optimism, we can double down on key areas that directly impact Arkansans:

Civic Engagement – Arkansas has one of the lowest voter participation rates in the country. Change starts at the local level—host town halls, support voter registration efforts, and lead by example.

Healthcare – Improve outcomes by supporting increased access and partnerships between businesses, healthcare providers, and nonprofits.

Education – Collaborate with schools on mentorship programs, literacy efforts, and workforce training.

Workforce & Earnings – Support programs that equip workers with in-demand skills, and invest in higher wages and benefits. A stronger workforce leads to a stronger economy for everyone.

Economic Development – Keep Arkansas an attractive place to live and work by advocating for attainable housing, smart infrastructure growth, and entrepreneurial support.