Your Curated Morning (#156) for September 12, 2024 is here!
|
The Main Thing: Three Years of Curated Morning! This week's Newsletter represents the third anniversary of writing this Newsletter! I didn't know where it would lead when I started this Newsletter. I wasn't sure how this would help me with my business or if there was an appetite for this type of information. The one thing I was sure of was my desire to give economic and community leaders something a little bit different than the typical economic development news one gets on social media, at conferences, and other places where we get information today. On the one hand, I have done that. I like to use a quote by Steve Jobs when he was talking about the design and marketing of Apple products: "People only know what they want once you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things not yet on the page." In other words, design things people don't realize they want or need. We only knew we needed iPods, iPads, smartphones, or earbuds once we were offered them. Now, they are ubiquitous. My philosophy on the information economic developers need is based partly on Job's quote. I want to give you the information you didn't realize you needed—information that can impact your thinking, cause you to ponder and wonder, and maybe open new lines of thinking and initiatives in your community or workplace. I have also evolved what I write about and how I present it in this Newsletter. I know you are busy, so I like giving you little snippets of the curated articles. If you are interested, you can click through to the article. One of my favorite things is to scour the internet for fun and lighter articles. I like to show the lighter side of life by linking articles about recipes for food, drinks, and other minutiae. We can't be serious all the time, can we? Finally, let's be frank. This Newsletter is a marketing piece. If you remember from the Business 101 class you took in college, building authority and expertise turns to trust. As you begin to rely on this Newsletter and the information I present here (and elsewhere), I would like you to turn to me and hire me to help you with any economic development projects you are brewing. I appreciate everyone who reads this. I love working on this Newsletter and am constantly seeking ways to improve it. I do this entirely by myself. There is no team. It takes a lot of time and effort to make sure this comes out every Thursday morning. It's a labor of love, as they say. Here are some favors I ask of you on this third anniversary:
One last thing: Would you be willing to "buy me a cup of coffee." Producing this Newsletter involves expenses such as subscriptions, software platforms, and a few others. I want to keep it free, so a cup of coffee will keep me awake and the Newsletter free. And thanks to the supporters who have already done so. Focus on a Green Economy Carrots, sticks or both: State efforts to combat anti-renewables NIMBYs by Brian Martucci | UtilityDive -- Where does your state stand on renewable energy projects? Is it using incentives to persuade local jurisdictions to approve projects? Or is it adopting a more centralized approach? This article explores the diverse rules and laws implemented across multiple states. States with long-term renewable energy goals are enacting laws that centralize control, such as Illinois and Michigan. However, some counties and states, often referred to as NIMBY jurisdictions, argue that renewable projects harm the environment, damage farmland, and spoil scenic views. This is a paradox, given the potential for a more sustainable future with renewable energy. In Minnesota, Xcel Energy looks to mimic a power plant with a solar and storage network by FRank Jossi | Trellis. -- Decentralized power may be the future. Instead of relying on large central power plants, as you can see with nuclear power, a virtual decentralized power grid would operate numerous battery and renewable energy generators distributed throughout the system. Imagine the energy company pulling down energy from your battery-powered home or your plugged-in Tesla with reverse metering. This article describes how a virtual power system might be deployed. The dirty little secret is that those plastic bottles and other plastic materials you put into your recycling bin rarely make it to the recycler. Eighty percent of plastics end up in a landfill, are incinerated, or in end up in our streets and oceans as litter. This is a pressing issue that demands our attention. Now, Berkley scientists have devised a process that will take those “unrecyclable” plastics and circulate them back into plastics. This article is ideal for your inner chemist, so be forewarned. The bottom line is that it is a promising technology that could significantly reduce the amount of plastics that are not truly recycled. Other Articles of Interest this week: Leadership - A Troubling Trend in Nonprofit Branding by Timothy Calkins -- While many nonprofit organizations are choosing to rebrand, many of them are moving from more-descriptive to broader, more-inspirational brand identities. This is a move that comes with a great deal of risk, according to Tim Calkins, a Kellogg professor and branding expert. Technology -- Generative AI: The next S-curve for the semiconductor industry? -- by Ondrej Burkacky | McKinsey & Company -- The surge of interest in and use of generative AI translates to higher demand for semiconductors, pushing the industry to innovate faster and produce more capable and efficient chips. Economic Development -- Hard Rock Casino Rockford: A New $300m Gambling Entertainment Hub in Illinois by Andrew Jones | iGaming News -- The Hard Rock Casino Rockford officially opened its doors to the public marking the culmination of a development process that exceeded $300 million. The 175,000-square-foot facility is strategically situated near the I-90 State Street exit in Rockford, Illinois. Inside, the casino boasts nearly 1,300 slot machines and 50 live table games, including poker, alongside a state-of-the-art sportsbook. The complex also features a 1,600-seat Hard Rock Live entertainment venue, set to host a variety of performances. City/Rural -- Hundreds of Mayors Agree to Set the Pace for Electric Vehicle Adoption by Carl Smith | Governing -- More than 350 mayors from the bipartisan Climate Mayors network have committed to greatly increase both the number of these vehicles in their fleets and the charging infrastructure available to EV owners. This is both a signal to manufacturers and an opportunity to increase public exposure to emission-free vehicles. Mentoring -- Interdependence: The Key to Healthy Relationships by Cara Gardenswartz Ph.D. | Psychology Today -- Partners provide emotional, practical, and spiritual nourishment when they participate in shared decision-making. Collaborative problem-solving reflects mutual respect and emotional intimacy deepens emotional connections between individuals. Overheard : Who Said This: “I am convinced that people are much better off when their whole city is flourishing than when certain citizens prosper but the community has gone off course. When a man is doing well for himself, but his country is falling to pieces, he goes to pieces along with it, but a struggling individual has much better hope if his country is thriving.” Pick who said this:
No cheating. Don't look it up. Take a guess and send me your answer. The answer will be in next week's Cruated Morning. Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, View What major movie star has appeared in the following movies? These movies undoubtedly were Academy Award material from the movement they were conceived. Maybe not. Can you guess who it is? The answer might surprise you. Pinnochio (2022) Ithaca (2015) The Ladykillers (2004) The Man With One Red Shoe (1985) Dragnet (1987) The last sentence is a lie. Have you been able to guess who it was? If you thought Tom Hanks, you are right. Hanks has captivated countless audiences with his versatility in the 52 movies he has made over the years. From Westerns to astronauts, from shipwrecked FedEx managers to iconic historical figures, Hanks has portrayed a wide range of characters on the big screen, leaving us all in awe of his talent. This article endeavors to rank all 52 movies from worst to best. According to the authors, the worst was The Circle (2017). Here are the top five in order according to the author:
My two favorite Hanks Movies are Forrest Gump (1994) come at #6 and A League of Their Own (1992) at #9. Which Tom Hanks movie is your favorite: You can read the article and view all 52 trailers here. Listen, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, View As a kid who grew up in a manufacturing city and worked in a hardware store, I like articles like the one highlighted here. The story is about the invention and history of the Phillips head screw. Here in Rockford, we were at one time the leading manufacturer of nuts, bolts, screws, and what the industry commonly calls “fasteners.” You can get “Screw City” t-shirts and merchandise at several stores throughout Rockford. Henry Phillips, the inventor of the Phillips screw, wasn’t from Rockford, but a similar type of screw head called the “torx” head was invented here. This screw may be familiar to anyone who works on automobiles regularly LISTEN, Eat, Drink, Watch, READ, and VIEW My favorite season is upon us: fall. I like Fall because, as a young man, I played football, and Fall was always the start of a new season. Along with a fresh start at school, new classmates, and cooler weather, Fall was the season winner in my mind, hands down. Another aspect of Fall I like is the colorful display of leaves bestowed upon us this time of year. Everyone has their favorite part of the country when it comes to “leaf peeping,” so depending on where you are in the country, it depends on when you might see the leaves changing color. To see where peak season for leaf peeping will be in your area, check out this map. Do you have a Project?Each week in Curated Morning, I would like to highlight a project, plan, or accomplishment an economic developer, community leader, or anyone has taken to improve their community. Are you one of those people? Please complete this form to submit your ideas or project to Curated Morning. We all love to read about successful people and ideas and see our names in print. So, do you have any project we should consider? Thanks for Reading 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 |