Monday, January 28, 2019

The Blame Game


I recently thought to myself that maybe if the greyhound industry would take a long hard look in the mirror they would face the problem and realize that if a drastic change was not made, it is over. Would the November result at last be the wake-up call to take on the challenge of doing things differently?

This morning I feel nothing has changed.  

The greyhound industry is back to pointing fingers at everyone but itself.
The horseman did it.
The activists did it.
The voters did it.

Just once, will anyone ask the questions that may lead to success going forward?

Did failed leadership do it?
Could using an often unpalatable, out of control, color by number talking head as the media face have done it?
Did the inability to stand behind one message/one organization/one hashtag do it?
Did living in the comfort zone do it?
Was not realizing it is about the greyhounds the beginning of the end?

Sadly, without strong qualified leadership, committees that understand politics, experienced media relations and the ability and desire to build trust and alliances with others, the greyhound industry is doomed to repeat the failures it has come accustomed to. Unless the industry is willing to do the deep dive look at itself, select a leader with real qualities, build a winning message and a winning team, the only thing really left to do is decide who will turn the lights out.

For years the greyhound industry laughed at the activists, hiding from social media and refusing to pull back the curtain which opened the door for the activists to run with a winning message, court political leaders, fund war chests and develop the necessary cross team relationships that would guarantee the elimination of the racing greyhound.

Are you willing to change and do what is necessary to save the greyhound industry and put the dogs first or will it be more of the blame game on everyone but ourselves?

1 comment:

  1. I never thought this day would come, but I agree with RG. Sort of. When I commented on articles after the election the responses I got made me wonder if those in the industry even knew there had been an election and they had lost. Badly. It was like nothing had changed. The comments were the same, the insults were the same, the unfounded accusations and innuendo were the same. I don't think, as RG does, that a change of leadership is the answer because no matter who is at the top, they are still running an economically unsustainable industry that exploits innocent living creatures for profit, but someone needs to put the coffee on so the industry can wake up and smell it.

    Fred Barton

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