E
very action taken has two essential
parts: a person and a situation. A
person can exist in mul-
tiple situations; multiple people
can share one situation. For
example, a person can be a cook
in a restaurant, school or home.
Conversely, all members of a
team participate in a single game.
Success occurs when these two
elements interact effectively.
People exist in multiple situ-
ations, designated by their resi-
dence, culture or language, religious affil-
iation or even the politicians or sports
teams they support. Understanding how
each of these fits into every situation
helps to identify goals and what is need-
ed to achieve them.
Goals are inherently personal though
others may share them. Only you under-
stand what specifically motivates
you to accomplish them. Each
situation presents obstacles, the
various twists and turns of life
that you must overcome to be
successful.
To succeed in any situation, a
person may rely on the encour-
agement or support of someone
else: teachers, religious leaders,
coaches, friends or family. Some
of these people may become mentors
who invest in your potential, thus
increasing your chances for success.
Some mentors have long-term influence
on your development and choices, while
others’
impact may be brief. Mentors
come and go as your life’
s situations,
goals and interests change.
Things to consider: Are you or the sit-
uation the primary focus? It is important
to recognize whether your life experienc-
es, knowledge, skills and attitudes will
control your situation. Equally crucial
is recognizing when a situation takes
control over you. Deciding which aspect
takes precedence will indicate how much
time and energy you must apply to
achieve your goals. In any situation, it’
s
better to blend your strengths with those
of others. Such alliances increase the
probability of everyone’
s success.
Depending on others is undoubtedly
a person’
s choice. Some people, however,
choose to go it alone. That is, they refuse
to be guided by a mentor or work with
allies. Maybe they have confidence in
their own abilities or uncertainty in the
competence of others. Laboring alone
can stimulate you to work harder or it
can diminish your enthusiasm to suc-
ceed. Ultimately, it is the level of effort
you put forth in any situation, whether
alone or with others, that makes success
attainable.
When both the person and situation
integrate successfully, the result moti-
vates you to succeed. The satisfaction
gained and the various forms of rec-
ognition that follow are intrinsically
personal. Conversely, the success of the
accomplishment itself, its acceptance and
the response of others are extrinsically
situational. Once the product or process
is out of your hands, its value will be rec-
ognized initially by those who will bene-
fit from it. At this point, you can confirm
that you have succeeded.
When you share a situation, such as
working on a group project or com-
mittee assignment, there will be times
when your ideas or beliefs are rejected.
Some members will personally take
responsibility for whatever outcome may
ensue. Others, however, may ascribe the
group’
s failure to the situation itself, a
force beyond their control. You may then
choose to eschew the input from others,
choosing to complete the task by your-
self. But we are inherently social beings,
so in the end, working alone can impede
attaining success.
Ultimately, fulfilling one’
s expectations
resides with both the person and the
situation. You must keep both in mind to
reach a successful outcome. ■
Dr. Daniel Rosenbaum is a clinical social worker at
Counseling Associates Inc. in West Bloomfield.
28 January 24 • 2019
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Daniel
Rosenbaum,
Ph.D., LMSW
family counseling
People + Situations + Success
Win-Win Move
Lighthouse, SOS to merge to serve clients better.
T
wo longtime Metro Detroit
nonprofits — both dedicated
to alleviating homelessness
and poverty in Southeast Michigan
— announced plans to join forces to
become a stronger champion for indi-
viduals and families in need.
Lathrup Village-based South
Oakland Shelter and Pontiac-based
Lighthouse of Oakland
County have more than
75 years of combined
experience serving
impoverished Metro
Detroiters. On Jan. 14,
SOS CEO Ryan Hertz
assumed leadership
responsibilities for both
nonprofits. He will serve as acting
CEO of Lighthouse indefinitely while a
merger plan is finalized.
“We believe that bringing our orga-
nizations together will offer a broader
and stronger response to economic
disparity that will greatly benefit those
we serve,” Hertz said.
Together, a combined SOS and
Lighthouse will be better positioned
to:
• Respond to the immediate basic
needs of those experiencing poverty.
• Work with economically chal-
lenged households to establish lon-
ger-term stability.
• Address the environmental fac-
tors that reinforce economic dispar-
ity, such as food security, housing
affordability and access to transpor-
tation.
• Engage, educate and empower our
community to ensure all people have
access to a better quality of life.
Since becoming CEO of SOS in May
2010, Hertz has worked with his board
and staff to dramatically expand the
organization’
s scope, providing emer-
gency shelter, rental assistance, afford-
able housing development, supportive
service solutions and crowdfunding
technologies that have helped thou-
sands of displaced people get back on
their feet and find a renewed sense of
purpose.
Hertz also serves as board presi-
dent for Spero Housing Group and
the Alliance for Housing, board chair
for the Lathrup Village DDA, and
as a board member of Chabad of
Greater Downtown Detroit and BBYO
Michigan Region.
The leadership change and planned
merger come after months of discus-
sions about the benefits of joining forc-
es and the planned departure of CEO
Rick David, who led Lighthouse for
3½ years. His last day was Jan. 10. The
boards of both organizations approved
the plan for Hertz’
s new
role and for merger talks
to move forward.
“Under Hertz’
s lead-
ership, SOS has made
great strides,” said
Lighthouse board chair
John Townsend. “Long-
term, we look forward to
a stronger combined organization that
improves the quality of services we
provide, expands our service area and
streamlines operations.”
All current staff at SOS and
Lighthouse will continue in their roles;
current compensation and benefits will
be retained for all employees. There
are no immediate plans to alter any
programs.
“The ultimate goal of joining forces
is to create a larger, more robust and
multifaceted organization to focus
on human services and a stronger
response to poverty,” Hertz explained.
“This plan will enable us to have a
larger impact in our communities and
better situate us to target the high-
er-need areas of hunger, homelessness
and housing.”
There is a critical need for improved
services in Southeast Michigan.
According to a 2017 study by the Food
Bank Council of Michigan, nearly
one in five Michigan children live in
poverty (21 percent), with household
incomes under $24,339 for a family
of four. In Metro Detroit alone, more
than 20,000 people — including many
families with children — are facing
homelessness. ■
Hertz
Townsend