The Pee Dee River Basin draft plan has been completed and is now available for public comment. The plan was developed over a two-and-a-half-year period by the Pee Dee River Basin Council, a working group of stakeholders with water interests in the basin, using the guidance of the South Carolina State Water Planning Framework published in 2019.
The public meeting is 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the Clemson Pee Dee Research and Education Center, 2200 Pocket Road, Darlington. It serves as an opportunity for the Pee Dee River Basin Council to solicit residents' input about the draft plan, which is available online at des.sc.gov/hydrology. Public comments will be accepted from January 14 to February 13, 2025.
JD Solomon, Inc., and Brown & Caldwell have teamed as the primary consultant on the project. JD Solomon served as the lead facilitator.
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Visit our Facilitation page for more information related all types of facilitation. Subscribe for bi-monthly updates related to our firm.
Nothing shuts down a conversation faster than a statement.
There is nothing more powerful than a well-crafted question. It provokes deeper thought from the receiver and demonstrates your empathy for their thoughts and feelings. In a group setting, asking questions helps to quickly gauge the direction of the conversation.
Why Avoid Making Statements
In contrast, making a statement often presents a one-sided view from the speaker, which can come across as condescending. Additionally, it provides little insight into what others are thinking.
An Example
Imagine you and a colleague have just finished a day-long facilitated session. If you are unhappy with the facilitator or the outcomes, the easiest but less effective response might be to voice your displeasure outright.
Instead, ask your colleague, "What surprised you most about today's session?"
This approach serves several purposes:
It shows that you value their opinion.
It prevents potential conflict if your views differ.
It may reveal insights you may have missed.
Catch Yourself and Ask a Question
The next time you feel inclined to make a statement, try turning it into a question instead. This can lead to a greater understanding of the feedback you receive. It encourages others to appreciate your presence because it shows that you prioritize their needs over yours.
Communicating with FINESSE is the not-for-profit community of technical professionals dedicated to being highly effective communicators and facilitators. Learn more about our publications, webinars, and workshops. Join the community for free.
We are thankful to our core clients and great professional team for making the past five years a success.
JD Solomon Inc. has reached its five-year milestone. We reflect on how blessed we have been and are especially thankful to our core clients, internal team, and several key advocates. We look forward to our sixth year and hope for many more to come.
Getting Past the Rocky Start
We did the official incorporation in December 2019 and opened the doors on January 2, 2020. Little did we know that COVID would shut the world down only two months later.
Nevertheless, we played to our niche strengths and core client needs. We also turned COVID into an advantage by being available on client sites when larger competitors would not.
The business got a little messy when JD took an interim town manager job that stretched from a 6-month assignment to an 8-month assignment. Nevertheless, we maintained our core focus and only lost a few clients in that timeframe.
The 3-Year Mark
According to the business 'book', reaching three years is like surviving the toddler years of any business. It’s rough figuring out finances, maintaining customers, knowing when to stay in your lane and when to get out, and finding experienced people in a small, niche firm.
Around 30% of new businesses are gone by year three.
The 5-Year Mark
In the third year, JD Solomon Inc. also divided into two operating divisions. The consulting arm was rebranded JD Solomon Solutions, and our not-for-profit arm sailed under the Communicating with FINESSE® flag. That helped with internal focus and allowed our core clients to not be inundated with CWF information.
As we moved into year 5, our team decided to stay lean, focus on core clients and services, and primarily use a part-time, senior workforce. That was a big decision at the time but one driven by a combination of personnel preferences and where the market was telling us to play.
By the business 'book', the 5-year mark is about being established and thriving. Approximately 50 percent of new businesses do not reach the 5-year mark.
We're extremely blessed and especially thankful to our core clients, internal team, and several key advocates.
“To infinity, and beyond”
As we commemorate the 5-year milestone, JD Solomon Inc. continues to provide practical solutions for complex challenges, maintaining a commitment to excellence and innovation in serving clients nationwide.
The practical solutions part is the key, meeting client needs where they are rather than where we all wish they could be. Operating context matters. After all, most of us know what we should do; knowing how to do it is the challenging part.
For more information about J.D. Solomon, Inc. and its services, visit our website at www.jdsolomonsolutions.com.
JD Solomon Inc. provides solutions for program development, asset management, and facilitation at the nexus of facilities, infrastructure, and the environment. Subscribe for monthly updates related to our firm.
