It's Never Too Late to Create!

Every town everywhere has a given number of attributes, mainly consisting of land, labor, and geographic location factors to draw in and support a certain segment of Commerce (people and dollars that determine-drive economic strength). Also, don't forget that every town also has liabilities that left untouched will always insure that the best-case potential will never be reached. Consider ALL of these to be components within the clay on the potters wheel from which you, as a community leader, will take, form and create a place that will contain what others seek.

I have been fortunate to live and work in places with beautiful natural surroundings, active University communities, as well as friendly, safe, homey environments. However or whenever these attributes were created, they were enhanced by the efforts of community leaders who knew their identity and recruited people and businesses that needed and would enjoy-benefit from these things. You may be thinking that it is as simple as "fishermen like-need a place to fish, so build them public access to the water and recruit a bait shop. Students need a place to learn, so give them a place to live, eat, shop." It is that simple, but it's not. If these examples fit you, you do not have the only lake or college in the State, nation, or world. Yours may not fit the type of fishing that specific types of fishermen prefer, nor may your College specialize in the type of study that a certain segment of students pursue.

To keep this lesson (blog) short, let me just plant this seed. It is NEVER too late to create. Create a place that enhances your strengths and amenities, that fits the market (people and businesses) that find what you have as attractive (just what they need), and never forget that what you have now can be changed and improved. For example, if people enjoy going to and visiting beautiful places (and they do), then work toward making your place beautiful. Since companies seek smart capable-willing workers, then develop your workforce to create what businesses need. If you are off the beaten path, you must plan, then find ways to pay for transportation improvements.

Economic Developers know this, but my hope is that elected and volunteer leaders will be reminded to embrace and appreciate their ability to shape a place that tourists, businesses, and potential residents will choose to come and enjoy, invest, and build upon what you create. Take stock of where you are, determine where you want to be, then develop an action-plan on how to get from here to there. My book, Small Town Solutions (available on Amazon), goes into greater detail on the "HOW TO" for this journey. A journey you MUST take. What are you going to Create?