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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>First and foremost… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!!!!!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Over the 2016 season, I have put a lot of thought into the question of growing pattern and have talked with members at all levels in the NSRCA about varying topics. I have also reflected on my own personal experience dating back to 2003. If we seem to know and understand the why, then why can’t or haven’t we been able to grow pattern?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>After eading many posts on this discussion group and RCU… I have came to only one conclusion that addresses all the problems that have been collectively identified in basically three catagories:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Investment of Capital (Money)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Investment of Time (Contests, Travel, Practice, SetUp, etc…)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Commitment (base of the Triangle)<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Like a fire triangle, these three components are required to sustain growth for any product. We have identified concerns with all three areas as to why prospective pilots do not buy into one, two, or all three components. I do not and cannot buy into these three catagories as the reason or root-cause preventing growth. It is much deeper than that. In sales terms, they are simply objections that we have not been able to overcome. If this phylosophy is correct, then “Why can’t we grow pattern”?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If we apply formal problem solving processes used in a business setting (5 Why’s, Fishbone, etc…) “and” we are honest with our assessment of our product (NSRCA), from my point of view the common root-cause is simply “Culture”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Having been in and out of compitition since 2007, the one thing that keeps coming back to me is the change in Culture. The change I observed, is “The lack of change itself”.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The one question we should be asking ourselves is, “What is it about our culture that would stop/prevent people from buying our product, the NSRCA?”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This concludes Part 1. My only intent for now is to provoke thought, not discussion, about the topic of the NSRCA Culture; and, then start the discussions after Christmas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Again, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Larry Diamond<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>NSRCA 3083<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>AMA5024</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>