Your Curated Morning (#149) for July 25th, 2024 is Here!
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The Main Thing: This is the third installment of the "obstacles" posts, wherein I write about overcoming obstacles. Much of what I share is inspired by Ryan Holiday's 2013 book, "The Obstacles is the Way." This book provides a blueprint for overcoming obstacles and using them to achieve the goals and objectives you want to achieve. Learning and adapting from failures is crucial to personal and professional growth. If you can learn from your failures, you can achieve things you never thought possible. Note: I had a conversation with a well-informed economic development professional and friend the other day. He and I both agreed that economic development professionals are not risk-takers. More specifically, economic development organizations funded via a public-private partnership take risks and are loathe to try new things. As a profession, we are not on the cutting edge. I have some theories about this, but I would love to hear from you. Do you agree? Do you have any examples of risks taken, mistakes made, or programs that didn't work out how you thought they should have? Please email me at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com with your thoughts. Focus on City and Rural Red States Are Winning in a Green New World of Economic Growth by Carl Smith | Governing -- Regardless of the continuing partisan debates about climate change, Republican-led states are benefiting economically from clean energy investments. In his book, "Clean Economy Now," author Bob Keefe spotlights the current economic boom driven by the shift towards sustainability. Keefe leads the nonprofit E2, which has a coalition of over 10,000 business leaders, investors, and professionals as its members. This nonpartisan group firmly believes that economic prosperity and environmental responsibility are not mutually exclusive. E2 members have been instrumental in launching and funding numerous enterprises, creating more than 600,000 jobs. Keefe emphasizes that the economic benefits of this green transition are not just significant but also promising for the future and are disproportionately beneficial to "red" states, many of whose representatives have voted against measures like the Inflation Reduction Act. Scientists test agriculture and solar energy on Illinois farms by Juan Pablo Ramirez-Franco | WBEZ Chicago -- Two experiments in the state are measuring which crops could grow well under these panels. In eastern Illinois, an innovative experiment called Solar Farm 2.0 is exploring the potential of agrivoltaics - the practice of growing crops beneath solar panels. This groundbreaking (no pun intended) research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows promising results in energy production and agriculture. As the U.S. races to meet ambitious clean energy goals, this dual-use approach could be a game-changer, allowing for increased solar capacity while preserving farmland. The early findings are not just promising but also inspiring, suggesting improved crop efficiency and enhanced wildlife habitats. The potential of agrivoltaics to address the challenges of clean energy and agriculture is truly inspiring, motivating us to work towards a more sustainable future. However, challenges still need to be solved in scaling up these systems. Notes from a beautiful country (political rough edges notwithstanding) by Neil Steinberg | Chicago Sun-Times -- Don’t let passing political theater make you forget the awesomeness of America. As an optimist, I believe in the power of a positive outlook in economic development. It's not just a mindset, it's a necessity. We always consider that things will turn out positively, even in the face of challenges. I have yet to meet an economic developer who is pessimistic—perhaps intellectually and informed, but never negative. Our optimism is not just a personal trait, it's a professional requirement that inspires us to see opportunities where others see obstacles. Other Articles of Interest this week: Leadership-- Neuroscience Says Olympians Like Simone Biles Use the Autopilot Trick to Achieve Peak Performance. So Can You by Jessica Stillman -- The neuroscience of how Olympians get in a flow state will help you perform better at whatever you're trying to master. Green Economy-- Don’t blame clean energy for rising electric bills by Jeff St. John | Canary Media -- A new report links rising U.S. power bills to fossil gas price spikes and utility incentives — not solar, wind, and batteries, as clean energy foes suggest. Technology-- Why Volkswagen is investing billions in a joint venture with Rivian by Jordyn Grzelewski | Tech Brew -- VW CEO Oliver Blume said the multibillion-dollar partnership would strengthen the company’s tech know-how and make it more competitive. Economic Development-- The Great Lakes region has a chance to replace the Rust Belt with the Blue Belt by John C. Austin | Brookings Commentary -- The Great Lakes region’s water and blue innovation economy is a fulcrum for renewed economic vitality in this historic industrial region. This is only partly due to the fact that the region has more freshwater than nearly any place on earth. Mentorship -- A Blog Post You Should Read: Morning routines are the big thing among life hackers. There are books written about morning routines. Books like Miracle Morning, the 5 AM Club, and others describe what farmers and many other service workers know: You can accomplish much in those early morning hours long before many of us are reaching for our smartphones to do the New York Times mini-crossword puzzle and Wordle (my confession, now you know). In this blog post, the author shares his personal journey with his morning routine, which may not align with the typical productivity-focused start. Instead, the author suggests a more relaxed and contemplative approach to the start of the day, based on his own experiences and insights. This personal touch can help you feel connected to the author's story. So you can pop out of bed, work out, meditate, and focus on journaling, or, as the author suggests, take a moment to just sit and contemplate, perhaps even stare at the wall. This seemingly idle activity can actually be a powerful way to start your day.
Overheard : “I think many people assume, wrongly, that a company exists simply to make money. While this is an important result of a company’s existence, we have to go deeper and find the real reasons for our being. As we investigate this, we inevitably come to the conclusion that a group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately. They are able to do something worthwhile— they make a contribution to society (a phrase which sounds trite but is fundamental).” David Packard in an informal speech in 1960 at the company he co-founded-- Hewlett Packard Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, VIEW I have never been fortunate to see an elephant in its natural habitat. What a sight that would be. Can you imagine having an elephant saunter up to your backyard and eat your Lilac bushes? Frankly, mine needs some trimming, so I wouldn't mind. That is a reality in some parts of the world. Today, you can see elephants, albeit sculptures of elephants, via “The Great Elephant Migration” exhibition. This exhibition, currently in Rhode Island, is not just a celebration of the beauty of the animals but a powerful advocate for habitat conservation and human-wildlife coexistence. It's a testament to the power of art in inspiring change and promoting mutual respect and reciprocity. "This way of looking at the world is rooted in mutual respect and reciprocity," says Elephant Family USA. "There's a reverence for nature and all its inhabitants, and a belief that the earth will look after us if we are respectful towards the earth and its inhabitants." The exhibit includes over 100 life-size elephant sculptures and will travel across the United States, including New York City, Miami Beach, Browning, Montana, and Los Angeles. If you are near these cities, please check them out and experience the beauty and power of these sculptures in person. Learning about the importance of habitat conservation and human-wildlife coexistence is a unique opportunity. Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, Read, View Are you indecisive? Do you mull over what color to paint the living room and regret your choice when the first coat goes up on the wall? Have you made poor personal or career choices? We face choices and need to make decisions every day. We must make decisions every moment we are awake and alive. It is unavoidable. Some of these decisions are easy, as they are ingrained in our habits. If you drive a car, the decisions come easy after many years of driving. How to turn, when to change lanes, and when to speed up and slow down are decisions that are easy to come by. The linked video provides a framework for making the more challenging decisions we need to make in life. Decisions about careers, personal relationships, and workplace activities can be daunting. However, with some tools, they can be clarified and make more sense, and outcomes can be assured. This framework can provide a sense of control and security in the face of uncertainty. Check out this TEDx talk on Decision making here. Listen, Eat, Drink, WATCH, Read, View Are you tired of reading and hearing about Artificial Intelligence (AI) yet? Despite the unending stream of stories and videos about AI, its use in the workplace, home, and elsewhere brings optimism and hope. Are you leveraging AI's potential in your business or economic development work? I make an assumption that many economic developers and community leaders, especially those who read this newsletter, where we curate many AI articles, understand and can explain the basics of regenerative AI. I also assume some of you have used simple AI tools to create and analyze essential documents and help you make decisions. However, the linked video is for all of you, including some of your stakeholders, who may need to be more familiar with AI concepts. It's designed to be accessible and informative for everyone. The video is produced by 1440, an excellent, unbiased news source that offers a daily online newsletter. You can subscribe to 1440 here. LISTEN, Eat, Drink, WATCH, Read, View I often discover music long after its life has expired. I latch onto songs or music that many people have moved on from. Example: Recently, I posted a video of a choreographed dance to the music of Gotye and his hit “Somebody I Used to Know.” I loved the dance routine but was also intrigued by the haunting melody. This spurred me to research the music and find the original artist. I am kind of obsessed with this song. It starts quietly and ends with the featured artist, Kimbra, expressing the raw emotion of breakup and disappointment. It turns out that this song was a top hit in 2012! How did I miss that? Can you believe it’s over 12 years old? Yet, it still resonates with me as if it were just released. After this, the artist Gotye continued to record with other artists and his band. His voice has been compared to Sting or Phil Collins but for a new age of music and songwriting. My taste in music varies widely, and I have often said that I rarely listen to the words but am moved by how the music sounds and moves me. With its haunting melody and raw emotion, this song moves me on many different levels, and the words have a lot of meaning to me presently. I hope you enjoy his music as much as I do: The original music video for the song’s release can be found here. An original recorded performance version featuring Kimbra can be found here (I like this best). Thanks for Reading I write this to serve my profession. But let's be honest: It also serves as a place to market my services. However, it still takes time and effort to do this. I want to continue to do this without requiring a subscription. That is why if you feel compelled to do so and like what you read or feel you have something out of it, please feel free to buy me a cup of coffee! I will forever be in your debt.
If you liked this email, pay it forward. Share it with someone you think might benefit. Did someone share with you? Sign up here. For previous editions, click here. Whenever you’re ready, there are several ways I can help you: 1. Economic Development: If you are looking to supercharge your economic development organization, I can help by strategizing and developing a roadmap to success. Set up a time to talk to me here. 2. Culture Change; Is your organization changing? Would you like to create an asset out of your culture? Do you know how to assess team strengths? Let me help you. I'm a certified culture change practitioner. Set up a time to talk to me here. 3. The Green Economy; The world is changing. Some of it is positive, and some of the change is not. Let me help you develop green economy opportunities for your community. Set up some time to talk about here. 4. Mentoring Programs: Circles of Seven (C7) is a proven and award-winning model for mentoring. Whether it is for business or your community leadership program, I can develop a mentoring program for you. Let's talk about your situation. Set up a time here. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding any articles in this newsletter please feel free to contact me through email at martin@martinkarlconsulting.com. You can review my services and offerings at www.martinkarlconsulting.com |