CHAPTER 13

If I Knew Then …

An Essay

Geoff Bellman

WHEN THE OD NETWORK began in 1964, I was beginning too, fresh out of graduate school, newly married, and off to conquer the corporate world. I did not yet know that organization development would soon begin emerging as my life’s work. OD was to be another marriage for me beginning with chance meetings, followed by frequent dates, engagement, commitment, and a shared life journey. This article describes that journey from one scenic viewpoint; it looks back for direction forward, offering nine points of wisdom.

I’m imagining that you, dear readers, are between 25 and 45 years old, and would love some affirmation or guidance on your own journey. I’ve written what would have been useful to me then—had ...

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