Five years ago, a small group of people in Ellijay, Georgia sat down at a table with a problem nobody could solve alone: their workforce couldn't afford to live in the community they served.

Truth be told, I am a shove it in the ground and pray it grows kind of person.

Honestly? I like the results of planting, but I am just not interested in the science of gardening.

Some coalition leaders take the same approach to growing their coalition. They start a coalition, give it a name, hold a few meetings and then wonder why growth stalls.

Gardening, like running a nonprofit or community coalition, is all about being agile, that is, adapting and responding to change.

That is why, at CES, we have begun suggesting our clients develop 3-year strategic plans, rather than the traditional five-year plan.