This is a MP3 file of some comments that I addressed to the Mayor on Hal Row's radio show during his Monday Morning Meeting with the Mayor segment: Link to MP3 file ( the audio is pretty good with my new Olympus Recorder).
I never got around to asking the question I intended to ask about specifics, but I thought that the Mayor did an excellent job of addressing my comments. I really respected what he had to say this time. Last month numbers showed that we were ranked number 159 out of 172 metropolitan areas as far as unemployment statistics are concerned. This month I have heard that we were ranked 170 out of 172 and that the story was related on NBC news with Brian Williams.
Some people might think that is terrible, but I think it might be just what the doctor ordered. Nothing will wake someone up to reality like a good hard slap in the face. We can no longer accept the status quo or expect help from other quarters.
As I stated, I think the Wall Street journal article from January was right on target. We could all see what was happening, but people were focused on social fluff and the important economic issues of the day were shuffled to the background. It took years to get into the position we are in now and it will take a while to get out of this hole we have dug.
We haven't laid a firm foundation. We are basically going to have to start over from scratch. We can't buy jobs by getting companies to relocate here. We can't afford to play that game. We are going to have to create jobs through innovation.
We have to become an incubator for creative entrepreneurs and experimenting minds. To get ahead, we are going to have to think outside of the box and take chances. The people who built this community were innovators. Look at Adrian Shuford, Art Viles, and the George brothers as examples of people who built businesses through good times and bad.
Small businesses are great, but it takes too many of them to get back the 30,000+ jobs that we have lost. That is where we are going to have to think "innovation" on a grand scale. Those opportunities exist, but everyone in this community is going to have to realize that there are going to have to be calculated risks that must be assumed. We cannot afford to have that "It's better than nuthin" attitude. We must strive for and demand excellence. It is alright to fail as long as you learn from the experience. It isn't alright to not try at all, because you are cowering in fear that failure might make you look bad. Not taking a chance makes you look like a timid coward.
All of this relates to the legacy of our leaders. Whether fair or not, the near future will render the opinion of our current leaders as heroes or goats. This is a heavy burden and I hope that they are up to the challenge. Leadership should be more than about position or stature. If anyone feels that they are not up to the task in these tumultuous times, then it is time for them to step aside and allow others the chance to take the lead in turning our economic plight around.
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Monday, May 4, 2009
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2 comments:
Seems to be lots of problems mentioned, but no solutions offered. It's easy to point out a city's failures, but it's much harder to offer real solutions. Why not tells us your specific plans for the rebirth of Hickory? We already know about the problems we face.
I already have. I continually talk about solutions. They are all over this blog. We are working on the Future Economy Council that will make it easier for entrepreneurs and innovators to come to the area and create products and new economies.
I personally want to see us feed off of the agricultural biotech center in Kannapolis. Read what I wrote in this article (This Ain't Podunkville Anymore). We should be making friends with David Murdoch (Dole Corp.), not making enemies against his interests. We have a lot of small farmers in this area that can certainly benefit from plant and animal engineering. Those small farmers would be able to increase their yield and hire more workers for the distribution process.
I also see Alex Lee, Inc. benefiting from such operations, because it will help them reduce transportation costs when purchasing these types of products and expand their product line.
I have also spoken of my desire to see a light rail system between here and Charlotte (Light Rail to Charlotte: One Investment Worth Making). That interconnectivity of transportation would allow us to have a better and broader synergistic economy with Western North Carolina. We should be the hub of this geographical area.
We also need to put our money (and ingenuity)where our mouth is and design, build, and implement these systems from this area. I believe, with the right people and approach, that we can make a deal with a French or Japanese company. Heck, I would talk with Ford Motor Company (or another viable transportation manufacturer) to get this ball rolling.
Those are just a couple of my ideas. I do come at this from a truly positive, as in forward thinking, point of view. I agree that I don't come at this from what many would term a positive point of view. Where has that wild-eyed "awe shucks" optimism gotten us? The comprehension of reality (our current status) is imperative to realize what got us into this current state. You have to admit you have a problem in order to solve it. Lying to yourself and everyone around that things are "Just Fine" while the house is burning down does no one any good.
I don't pretend to have all of the solutions. I want to hear other people's ideas and I won't be negative about them, unless they come from a "Can't Do" angle.
As I stated. I believe that most of us have a lot more in common, than we have as differences. Let's realize that and quit dwelling on those differences. I have dealt personally with a lot of different personalities in engaging local people on the issues of these times. You know what? Most of them could do great things together, but there are one or two issues that they have differences on and the two differences keep them from acting together on the other eight things that would not only be beneficial to them, but to everyone around them.
It is time for some of these people to let by-gones be by-gones. True Leaders can bring people and forces together. If you think you can lead, then please step forward. From there, the cream will rise to the top.
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