Nature versus nurture

If we're paying attention to what works and what doesn't work in an organization or on a project, there are always signs of tensions. The tensions are there, and they're something to deal with on an ongoing basis. They don't go away, and they can't be swept under the rug. They're something to manage. 

One example is how fast do you want to move and how many people need to be involved. By involving a lot of people in the process, the process slows down. It takes time to get people - with their opinions and hang ups and busy schedules - to move forward together. Sometimes doing all that work is worth it. It's just something you have to consider on a case by case basis, and figure out what path you want to take. 

I frequently hear one particular one tension in land conservation. One side of the tension is the goal of protecting land for the wilderness, the plants and animals, and for the big wide open pristine places. The other side is the goal of protecting land for people, called public access in the industry. I'm so glad that we have people who are advocating for and working tirelessly to protect land for wilderness. I'm also so glad we have people in the world who are connecting people to the land, getting people of all kinds outside. Because we need both. 

This isn't an either-or question. It's both.