The joyride that is PRPS

When I was in primary school, standardized testing reported to my teacher and my parents that I measured higher in “Achievement” than in “Ability.” I don’t know how they reached that conclusion, because by third grade, I really hadn’t done anything yet. But I do remember that this caused some consternation, because that was the reverse of what was considered normal. How could someone achieve more than they were able?

It seemed unthinkable.

Now, nearing the end of my career, I can say, yes, we’ve achieved some things together—but it certainly isn’t because of any great Ability on my part.

Hear me out. Because this is where you come in!

I think, instead, our collective Achievement has been a four-wheeling joyride driven by Attitude, Vision, Initiative, and Collaboration.

ATTITUDE controls action—specifically and primarily our own behaviors. With the properly cultivated attitude, we determine what we choose to believe about ourselves, our circumstances, our possibilities, our potential, and our future.

VISION sees things that do not yet exist; akin to faith. It comprehends the end of a journey before we arrive. It allows ideas—some little, some audacious, some preposterous—to root, grow, and develop into a preferred future. It believes dreams can come true.

INITIATIVE is what navigates ATTITUDE through all of life’s circumstances toward VISION. It is not permanently stymied, nor long stifled. It poses what-ifs, it explores things unknown, it aligns resources with opportunities.

COLLABORATION engages like-minded others to contribute diverse capabilities and insights, and produce a collective strength that no one can on their own—which is how any one person’s Ability is superseded to produce a higher level of achievement.

Together, an undefeatable attitude, a possibility-seeking vision, an unflagging initiative, and unified collaboration creates a dynamic catalyst for achievements beyond anyone’s actual ability. 

So as I close out my time with PRPS, I humbly recognize and thank all those who through their own attitude, vision, initiative, and collaboration, have built the Achievement that is our current-day PRPS.

We can be justifiably proud of our accomplishments, recognizing that greater results can nearly always be co-produced with collaboratively-minded others. And collectively produce far beyond that of any one's ability.

Thanks for the joyride!

Photo: The joyriding PRPS Staff at the 2025 Conference