Rowitz On Leadership

Over the past year, I have been engaged in a major writing activity as well as adjusting to a number of life passages. First, I have been working on the third edition of my book PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP:PUTTING PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE. This edition of the book was unique in that I combined the second edition of the book with my other book on leadership and preparedness. The book was a challenge in that I had to make a number of choices about what stayed in the new edition and what would not be retained. In addition, I wanted to update the book. This meant reviewing all the source material from previous editions as well as adding new material that was not in the other book as well. Another challenge related to some changes due to copyright laws and the necessity to get all new permissions to use content from other sources. Part of this relates to the creation of an e book edition for the book as well as a paperback version(Hardback editions increase costs to a significant degree) Although I believe that books are creative enterprises, they are also impacted by the publishing business. Instructors also want ancillary materials to go along with the book. The ancillaries took me several additional months to create. They include extra cases and exercises, a test bank of almost 500 questions, curriculum content and course outlines, and an extensive booklist for people who want to read more leadership related books. Each chapter of the book needs to stand on its own for instructors who want to create a special book from chapters from a number of books and articles.

While I worked on this third edition, I tried to keep up on my blog. I also retired in 2012 and needed to adjust to my life passage. In retirement, I have given up almost all my administrative responsibilities. I have gone back part-time to my university in order to continue my work on training leaders and leadership. I have also become a snowbird by going south for the winter. I have partially redefined myself and realize that I still like to work but on my own schedule. I will still be a trainer, consult some, and work on some small public health services and systems research. I am reading more fiction than I used to do and seeing movies and going to plays. Life continues to be full and excitement and challenge does not stop with retirement.