Idea Friendly Solutions to the old way of thinking

You’ve been answering the Survey of Rural Challenges for ten years now. One of the common themes is the persistence of old way thinking. In rural communities, old-way thinkers are often the folks who say things like: 

• Let’s not change anything; we like it this way. 
• We tried that before, and it didn’t work. 
• We know this town better than you, and we want it this way. 
• We need to hold off on that project, run it past a few more people, and see what they think. Then, we can fix the planning and see what happens.

Their families have a long history in the town; and they expect a certain deference when community decisions are being made. Generally, they are older. And they don’t want change. Every rural community has these folks in their towns. 

What did the survey results say about this old-way of thinking?

SaveYour.Town has received your answers to the Survey of Rural Challenges for ten years. Becky and I worked with the data, analyzed it, broke it down, shared it, and we came away with some conclusions. 

The primary conclusion is that although good ideas are stifled by conflict, negativity, and old-way thinking, communities that are open to new ideas can thrive.

We are excited to hear that communities are open to new ideas, and change too. The survey results were not all doom and gloom. But we did hear how a few don’t want change. Those folks who don’t want change are not a majority. They are loud, attend meetings, and write letters to the editor. So it feels like they are everywhere. We call them the committee of negativity.

Here’s what you said about old-way thinkers: 

“I wish members of the community would be more inclusive of residents who wish to participate in improvements, committees, and working toward more positive change in our community.   Sometimes it feels like high school.” (2024)

“The “native” people don’t want change and the new people feel excluded.”(2024)

“Another concern of mine is city council is made up of (the) same families that don’t seem to be forward thinking or look for ways to change, it’s always how things have always been. “ (2024)

What can you do?

There are several things you can do, and you’ll want to dive in using the Idea Friendly Method. Let’s start with newcomers and I’ll show you how the Idea Friendly Method works.

Welcome the newcomers

Start with finding ways to go around the old way thinkers. The steps are easy; anyone can do this alone or with a group.

• What is your big idea? (welcoming newcomers) 

• Gather your crowd around your big idea. 

• Build Connections into a powerful network

• Take Small Steps toward your big idea.

 Your big idea is to be welcoming to newcomers. You don’t need permission to do most of the things you want to do. Your city leaders don’t need to approve, and neither does the committee of negativity. Just get to work.

Step One: Bring your friends together for coffee or a visit to the park (somewhere comfortable and not in a place like city hall)  to talk about some ways you can find out who these newcomers are. 

Step Two: Who can you ask that might have more information? Who are those connections? It might be the Chamber, or local churches, realtors or students.

Step Three: Take small steps. Like:

• • Say hello when you don’t recognize someone walking down the street.
    •  Introduce yourself. If possible, have a conversation.
    •  Invite them to the next event in town or out for coffee. 
  • Shop at their stores in town. 
  • Talk about their businesses online, what you liked about them, what they sell, etc. 
  • Be neighborly. 

You aren’t building committees, calling meetings, assigning tasks – you’re just getting together and seeing where this goes. No one has to take notes for everyone. There are no officers. Idea-friendly is easy to do, simple to participate in, and fun to watch as it grows!

Here’s what you said about newcomers: 

“There are a lot of immigrants and refugees that settle in the region, bringing different cultures, languages and age groups. For some communities, it is a change to see new faces. For others, it is more common.”(2023)

“We are a rainbow of colors and personalities. Most people in our town are wonderful and want to see great things happen….We have recently had a change of leaders in our city and I believe it’s been 100% positive. There are many forward thinking people who are doing great things for our community.” (2023)

“We have groups and individuals actively working to bring change. Most of these people (including myself) moved here from elsewhere. New blood makes things happen. “(2023)

What else can you do to combat old-way thinking? 

Make a list 

Very few of us know what all of our assets are in our community. Start a list. 

In the Survey of Rural Challenges, you mentioned natural resources as your number one asset over the course of ten years. 

Remember to be Idea Friendly.

• Why not go out for dinner or coffee with friends and start your list? 
• Then, share that list. It could be in your office, or you could put it online.
• Who else could help? Would the newspaper run an article about it?
• You’ll feel the excitement building, and more people will want to join in this adventure of list-making. Let them. 

Here’s what you said about recreation:

“Outdoor recreation resources … are underutilized. Community is hungry for positive change.” (2023)

“…We want to capitalize on our outdoor recreation opportunities and attract visitors and new residents that will help build our future.  We are at a critical crossroads of moving our community forward …” (2023)

“We have incredible outdoor recreation opportunities, both in town and nearby. In my opinion, our city and local economic development groups have never properly marketed those opportunities. Outdoor recreation is different from most other kinds of tourist business, because it is truly unique to our location. You cannot move (a reservoir)  elsewhere, and place-based outdoor recreation  isn’t a competitive market in the same way as the restaurant business, for example.”(2021)

Elect Somebody Else

There are more young people and newcomers moving into rural communities. Newcomers and young people are the folks you want to run for board president of the chamber of commerce and run for the city council. It is time for new blood. 

What are some small steps you can take to support a candidate?  Vote for them, of course, but also talk with them. Share what they told you in person, in writing, online. Be involved in your community. That can be as simple as attending a community theater play or the 4th of July picnic.  Talk about who you are supporting or about your campaign! 

This ties in with finding your newcomers, doesn’t it? Your next city councilperson might be one of those newcomers.  Find and elect new leaders if you’re unhappy with the old ones. People weighed in on this topic, too. 

Here’s what you said about elected leaders: 

“I ran for council in the last election (didn’t win but it was a great way to meet a lot of people in a short amount of time). “(2023)

“Overall, our communities are good.  We face the same challenges as other rural communities, but we don’t consistently make the progress we need.  We react to crisis, but do not employ an ongoing process to achieve lasting progress.  Much of this is due to changing leadership at the city level.  … The answer, in my opinion, lies in groups and organizations outside of the elected officials that “”take the reins”” and move forward with volunteers behind each cause.”  (2021)

“Our elected officials don’t understand they need to help take action.  Those of us who realize the impacts this is having really can’t be the voice to try to get them out of office.  How can we ever get them on the community train?” (2017)

How Can SaveYour.Town Help You? 

Share success stories.

We do that often! Send us your success stories and we will write about them. Some folks call this advocacy, and maybe it is. We are rural champions!

“Keep up the advocacy.  One thing I try to do is remind the folks that live in the big cities is that the rural economy is very important to the welfare of the metro areas.  Rural communities grow food, trees for lumber, generate electricity, mine rocks and minerals for building materials — in short, cities are not self sufficient, they rely on us for everything they have. “

Show your people the Idea Friendly Method

Work with them to create their own Idea Friendly Projects. 

“Keep doing what you’re doing!!  Ideas are great – the challenge is moving people from talk to action!  Idea friendly method is the key.”(2021)

Attend an event where we are speaking.

Each month we send a newsletter with our speaking information and where to find us. (www.saveyour.town/signup) Meet other folks who think like you and begin building networks.

“I have enjoyed listening to you you at a couple of events.  Your ideas are so simple sometimes that I can’t figure out why we never thought of them!  Keep up the great work!”

Become a member at SaveYour.Town.

You’ll have access to all of our videos and can watch them with others in your community. https://learnto.saveyour.town/saveyour-town-membership 

“Several businesses for sale — not because business is bad, but owners want to retire. I recently coordinated a Tour of Business Opportunities, based off of your video series, and hope to continue marketing these properties.”

We believe in you. And we listen to you. Our focus is rural, and only rural. This year our focus is coming together for stronger communities. See what that means here.

“I have followed you for some time now.  Keep up the good work. It does help to know we are not alone and that someone looks at the difference between rural & big city.”(2021)

Bring us to town!

You can receive help from us in ways we’ve developed over the last almost ten years of working together. Start with finding out who we are. Visit www.saveyour.town

Sign up for the free newsletter. Watch the free webinars, read the articles and keep up with the Real Town Results.

Then when you are ready, you might choose: 

• Workshops and presentations for your events 
• Visits to your communities, short-term and long-term 
• Project consulting for your groups 
• Training for your teams
• Individual and group coaching
• Help with creating rural tracks at your conference.

“Of all the newsletters and webinars I see and hear, your information is always the most valuable. No one ever speaks to the rural communities.  I hear so many of these challenges from local people and business owners – can’t wait to hear your answers. Thank you!!”