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
jn

jews d
in 
the

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