There's an ART to Making a Difference

Part Two: What the Old Mill Taught Me About Resourcefulness

As I continue preparing for my keynote, There's an ART to Making a Difference, at the Association Executives of North Carolina Annual Conference, I find myself discovering lessons in unexpected places.

Last week, I shared how the Linn Cove Viaduct reminds us of the power of Awareness—seeing what others overlook. This week, my paintbrush has taken me to another North Carolina landmark that has inspired me for decades: the Old Guilford Mill.

I've painted this historic mill countless times. It has appeared in my books, served as the backdrop for a PBS painting demonstration, and continues to draw me back year after year. But this time, as it became part of the commemorative painting I'm creating for AENC, I realized it also tells a remarkable leadership story.

Resourcefulness 

For more than 250 years, the Old Guilford Mill has quietly served its community. Long before electricity powered machinery, its builders looked to the steady flow of Beaver Creek. They didn't complain about what they lacked. They recognized the resource already flowing beside them and transformed it into something that could sustain generations.

That simple truth speaks to every leader I know.

Resourcefulness begins by recognizing what you already have. Every organization has untapped gifts—dedicated people, meaningful relationships, shared experiences, and a mission worth believing in. The challenge isn't always finding more resources. Often, it's discovering the value of the ones already surrounding us.

Resourcefulness encourages creativity over convenience. The mill wasn't built because someone had unlimited resources. It was built because someone had imagination. Innovation often grows from limitations, not abundance.

Resourcefulness creates impact far beyond ourselves. The Old Mill wasn't built to be admired. It was built to serve. For generations, neighbors gathered there, grain was transformed into flour, and a simple waterwheel became the heartbeat of a community. The best leaders do the same. They use their talents not simply to succeed, but to help others flourish.

As I finished painting the weathered boards and the turning waterwheel, I realized the Old Mill had become much more than another beautiful North Carolina landmark. It had become a reminder that making a difference rarely begins with having more.

It begins by making the most of what you've already been given.

Next week, I'll share the final landmark in the painting—the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse—and why Timing may be the most important ingredient in every meaningful accomplishment.

"Every organization has untapped gifts..."

Association leaders know this perhaps better than anyone. Volunteers, members, partners, sponsors, and staff each bring unique strengths. Great leadership isn't collecting more resources—it's helping people discover the value they already possess