10 Great Words

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? They usually involve something we all struggle with - change. Another word for change is Transform. Lehman & Lehman, Inc. has been “transforming horizons” for over 20 years!
To help you transform your resolutions, and your horizon for 2010, we’ve provided “10 Great Words” (authored by Jim Carroll, a futurist and trends / innovation expert). This is a powerful list with thought provoking concepts. Enjoy!
Observe
Take the time on a regular basis to look for the key trends that will impact you, the industry you work within or the career you have established. Take the time to learn about the many automated knowledge discovery tools that exist on the Internet; develop a culture that taps into global collaborative knowledge. Far too many organizations sit back after a dramatic change and asked, “what happened?” Make sure that your organization is one that asks, “what’s about to happen? And what should we do about it?”
Think
Analyze your observations: spend more time learning from what you see happening around you. If you are like most organizations, you are responding to trends on a short term, piecemeal basis: you are reactive, rather than proactive. Step back, take a deep breath, and analyze what trends are telling you. From that, do what really needs to be done.
Change
In a time of rapid change, you can’t expect to get by with what has worked in the past – you must be willing to do things differently. Abandon routine; adopt an open mind about the world around you. The world is changing at a furious pace whether you like it or not. Take a look at how you do everything – and decide to do things differently.
Dare
Have you lost your ability to take risks? Maybe so – yet risk-taking is critical to innovation and change. Work with a few of the new ideas that you generate, and try them out. That’s the only way that you will be comfortable with what comes next.
Try
How many of your people have lost their ability to adapt to changing circumstances because they’ve lost their confidence? Developing new skills and career capabilities is critical, given the rapid change occurring around us. Yet too many people have managed to convince themselves that they can’t adapt; they can’t change. Don’t let that happen – it’s one of the worst attitudes for going forward into the future.
Empower
In a world of rapid change, you can’t expect that rigidly defined rules will be the appropriate response to changing circumstances. A ticked off customer needs a solution right now from a front line customer service rep – not some type of follow-up from head office weeks later. A middle manager in a remote location needs the ability to make a decision and must commit to it today – they can’t afford to wait for the wheels of head office bureaucracy to churn. Destroy the hierarchy, and encourage a culture in which people are given the mandate and the power to do what’s right, at the right time, for the right reason.
Question
Go forward with a different viewpoint by challenging assumptions and eliminating habit. If your approach to the future is based upon your past success, ask yourself whether that will really guarantee you similar results in the future. If you do certain things because “you’ve always done it that way,” then now is an excellent time to start doing them differently.
Banish
Get rid of the words and phrases that steer you into inaction and indecision: “We can’t do that.” “It won’t work.” “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.” These are the innovation killer phrases – watch for them, and don’t permit them to be used.
Grow
Stop focusing strictly on cutting costs – focus on service opportunity instead. Don’t stand in fear of what you don’t know – teach yourself something new. Don’t question your ability to accomplish something great – grab the bull by the horns and see what you can do! The point is, in a world of rapid change, you must continually enhance your capabilities and opportunities through innovative thinking. Change your attitude now, and the rest will come easily.
Do
Renew your sense of purpose, and restore your enthusiasm for the future by taking action. Too many organizations, and the people who work within them, are on autopilot. They go into work each day, and do the same things they did the day before, with the belief that everything today is the same as it was yesterday. It isn’t.
Word #11
Oh, and there’s an 11th great word!
Enjoy!
Through the years, I’ve come to learn that the groups that pursue innovation are those organizations and individuals who approach the future with a lot of passion. These are the folks who tend to wake up every day and think, “wow, I can’t wait to get to work!” These are the people who have succeeded with being innovative, in mind, spirit, and actions.

Mishawaka Avenue Streetscape

The City of Mishawaka has commissioned Lehman & Lehman, Inc. for design updates and construction documents for Mishawaka Avenue Streetscape, north of the downtown area. The intent is to create a vehicular and pedestrian friendly corridor that unites the river walk and town homes with the streetscape of Mishawaka Avenue. The primary goal of the project is to improve curbs, sidewalks and parking, refine lanes and adjust utility infrastructure. Additionally, aesthetic treatment in the form of landscape, lighting and signage will also take place along Mishawaka Avenue. Engineering services were provided by Danch, Harner & Associates, Inc

Construction by Rieth Riley Construction began in September 2009. Photos showing "Before", "In-Progress" and "Final" stages of construction will be posted below as progress continues.

MISHAWAKA AVENUE STREETSCAPE "IN-PROGRESS"

11.06.09 New curb for proposed planting bed

11.06.09 New curb at the intersection of Ann St. & Mishawaka Ave.

11.06.09 New curb & utilities in front of St. Monica's looking east

11/06/09 Middle of Mishawaka Avenue looking east

11/06/09 Middle of Mishawaka Avenue looking west

11.06.09 Looking west preparing for new curbs

11/06/09 New curb preparation looking west from the end of Elizabeth Street

10.16.09 Southern view from Ann Street

10.16.09 Looking east toward Main Street from Ann Street

10.16.09 Looking northeast - preparing for utilities

10.16.09 Looking east toward Main Street

10.16.09 View looking west toward Logan Street

MISHAWAKA AVENUE STREETSCAPE "BEFORE"

11.13.07 View from the end of Ann Street looking at the south side of Mishawaka Avenue

7.23.09 Existing corner of Elizabeth Street and Mishawaka Avenue looking east toward Main Street

7.23.09 Existing Mishawaka Avenue looking west

7.23.09 Existing streetscape view looking east

Pumpkinvine Trailhead Development and Bridge Rehabilitation (Updated August 25, 2009)

Through the Lily Foundation and an Indiana Trails Grant, the Elkhart County Park & Recreation Department has continued the development and construction of the Pumpkinvine Trail. The County Park Board has commissioned Lehman & Lehman, Inc. to complete the design and development of a trailhead and parking lot as well as bridge rehabilitation.

The trailhead layout and design will be located east of State Road 13. It will include the development of a rest area equipped with picnic tables, benches, a drinking fountain and bike racks. In addition, the trailhead design will include an information kiosk about the Pumpkinvine Trail. Located off the west side of County Road 43, the new parking lot will serve users of the trail. It will accommodate ten vehicles and will have two spaces that are handicap accessible with easy access to the adjacent trail.

Bridge rehabilitation work will occur on three former railroad bridges. One spans the south fork of Pine Creek and the other two span Mather Ditch and East Lake Ditch. The bridge work will include bank stabilization and stream realignment as well as the replacement of existing piles, ties, back walls, and new decking, rail systems and concrete approaches.

Construction by bridge contractor, Beer & Slabaugh, is in progress. Bridge completion is scheduled for June. The completion of the trailhead is set for September, 2009 and the parking lot in 2010. Photos showing "Before", "In-Progress" and "Final" stages of construction for each of the three bridges, parking lot and trailhead are below.

SOUTH PINE CREEK BRIDGE "FINAL"

6.2.09 Approaching the renovated bridge from the east - Final segment of trail ready to be paved


6.2.09 Completed bridge renovation - New bridge decking, railing and concrete approaches


6.2.09 Old supports New - Decades old substructure supports new Pumpkinvine Pedestrian Trail


6.2.09 Newly contoured embankment stabilized with erosion control fabric and native seeding


6.2.09 View of new bridge looking towards County Road 33 and the cleaned up former railroad corridor

SOUTH PINE CREEK BRIDGE "IN-PROGRESS"

5.19.09 Re-aligned South Pine Creek with glacial stone bank stabilization


5.19.09 View looking east across the renovated bridge from the west bridge approach


5.19.09 View looking west where the new approach and guardrail meet the existing trail


5.19.09 Subgrade and base preparation for the east approach


5.19.09 New bridge railing cantilevered supports tied into the existing substructure


5.19.09 New bridge railing


5.19.09 New bridge deck surface abutting the concrete approach


5.19.09 Glacial stone bank stabilization


5.19.09 South Pine Creek Bridge renovation nearing completion

5.1.09 Existing East Bridge abutment with new pile encasement

5.1.09 South Pine Creek realignment and the early stages of bank stabilization

5.1.09 New west bridge abutment construction

5.1.09 Clearing of invasive trees on the east bank prior to bank stabilization

5.1.09 Existing bridge deck, curb and ties to be replaced with new wood decking and railings


5.1.09 East end of bridge - continuation of the new Pumpkinvine Trail segment to County Road 33


5.1.09 New stream alignment after site clearing, earthwork and debris removal

SOUTH PINE CREEK BRIDGE "BEFORE"

10.3.08 View looking east across the existing bridge and along the existing trail corridor toward County Road 33


7.2.08 Existing South Pine Creek Bridge


7.2.08 Existing temporary decking and deteriorating cross ties


7.2.08 View upstream (north) under existing bridge


7.2.08 Current stream location and center pile bent


7.2.08 Existing west abutment and severe bank erosion

PARKING LOT "BEFORE"

7.2.08 Proposed trail parking lot entrance off of County Road 43
and existing vegetation

7.2.08 Adjacent Proposed trail corridor, north of new parking lot

7.2.08 View of proposed trail corridor from location of new parking lot


TRAILHEAD "BEFORE"

7.2.08 Proposed trail route through woods and trailhead entry


7/2/08 Proposed trailhead location within existing woods
(north side of proposed trail)


7/2/08 Proposed trailhead (south side of proposed trail)


MATHER DITCH BRIDGE "IN-PROGRESS"

7.9.09 Existing bridge piles to be cut level to eliminate super-elevation of former railroad bridge


7.9.09 Existing bridge beams to be salvaged and re-used on renovated bridge


7.9.09 Mather Ditch flowing north - existing bridge piles to be replaced


7.9.09 View of western abutment scheduled for repair


7.9.09 Temporary earth platform for crane staging - east side of bridge


MATHER DITCH BRIDGE "BEFORE"

7.2.08 Existing deteriorating decking and overgrown vegetation on
Mather Ditch Bridge


7.2.08 Western view of the Mather Ditch Bridge on the
Pumpkinvine Trail Corridor


7.2.08 Eastern bridge pile bent and bridge abutment


EAST LAKE BRIDGE "IN-PROGRESS"

7.9.09 New substructure of East Lake Ditch Bridge prior to temporary decking


7.9.09 East Lake Ditch Bridge reconstruction


7/9/09 New bridge substructure - temporary decking will be installed to allow for trail paving


6.22.09 Bank protection for stream in-flow


6.22.09 New east bridge abutment with rip-rap bank stabilization


6.22.09 New west bridge abutment


6.22.09 New bridge abutments ready for new beams, ties and decking


6.22.09 New back wall reconstruction piles, pile cap and bank stabilization


6.22.09 Bank protection for stream out-flow


6.2.09 Existing deteriorated pile caps removed and scheduled to be replaced


6.2.09 Existing deteriorated piles scheduled to be removed and replaced

6.2.09 Unexpected deteriorated bridge beams that will be replaced with new HS-20 rated timber beams


6.2.09 Bridge construction crew positions new pile as it is suspended vertically by the crane


6.2.09 Crane mounted drop hammer begins to drive the new pile on the east side of East Lake Ditch


6.2.09 Crew observes pile as it is driven into the ground


EAST LAKE BRIDGE "BEFORE"

7.2.08 Existing deteriorating East Lake Ditch Bridge and decking


7.2.08 Existing west approach to bridge


7.2.08 Existing west abutment and back wall with overgrown vegetation


7.2.08 Existing deteriorating cross ties and piles, scheduled to be replaced