Paint the Streets in Your Small Town
Arts R Alive, a local group in the small town of Webster City, Iowa, bring sculptures to West Twin Park. They together in 2015 and thought it might be fun to paint the streets as a way to do a little fund raising. 18 x 18 squares were laid out, businesses and organizations were invited…
Weed Whackers and Window Cleaner Ninja
I visited Roscommon County, Michigan and toured a few empty buildings. On one corner, a major intersection into town, there was an empty building on each corner. We talked about building possibility, working with the county and the town and hosting a tour. Next to one of the buildings that needed to be torn down…
No one person gets to decide
We no longer need a few leaders to make all the decisions. All the people get to do things. Got an idea? Go for it. And try, test, try again, test again, and refine until it works. Or it doesn’t. No need for meetings. No need for permissions. No need for drama. The future is now. …
What will the future look like?
Location doesn’t matter in the future. You can work from anywhere. Work will be competitive and informal/hands on education will be valuable. Artists will be in good shape and Dr’s will see more robots replacing them. It will be the networking economy and we will need people who can connect with robots. Empathy, communication skills, management…
Your Gift from Becky and Me
We know that the Idea Friendly method works in small towns just like yours. You can learn all about it by watching this video. You’ve got through December 31 to watch it. Invite others to join you! Happy Holidays!
What story are you telling?
We can be our own worst enemies. It’s time to change that habit. The rural narrative that others are writing about us is just not true. Rural is NOT dying, and they are describing rural based on deficits. Let’s get better about talking about our assets. Our downtowns have changed not because they are rural but…
Is small scale manufacturing a thing for small towns?
Just what is small scale manufacturing? It’s the artisan makers, the prototyping to small scale, it’s the production at scale, the makerspaces and the shared commercial kitchens and workshops. You’d be looking for craft brewers, artisan businesses, contract manufacturing, commercial kitchens, farmers market organizers, and the ‘connectors’. Let’s play a short game of who do…
Running on Fumes
I get it. Everything is coming at you at once. Trying to prioritize becomes an exercise in futility. You’ve lost your grip on being in control. Stop. Breathe. Realize that you don’t have to be in charge. In fact, being in charge and in control is a demon of the past, part of the old…
Raise Your Voice
Paula Jensen is a guest blogger, and I’m thrilled to share this article of hers. (All bolded letters are at my direction.) Raise Your Voice for Rural Communities It seems to me the only voices being heard in this world are from big companies, big cities and big government. The news blasted on my car…