Soapbox

Here's the thing about talk: It sometimes takes on a life of its own. Gossip gets bigger and juicier. Drama gets more traumatic. We know its power, so why not channel talk into positive momentum?

Many folks from economic development organizations in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) are gathering to do just that. It begins with the conversation, that is, attentive talk and active listening.

In March, 30 people from the OTR Chamber of Commerce, OTR Foundation, Merchants of Main, the Brewery District, OTR Arts, Vine Street Central Business District, 3CDC, the City of Cincinnati, OTR Vitality and the Corporation of Findlay met over a working lunch at Lavomatic.

Each month, the conversation continues at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, focused on the work of each organization and how we can support one another to do more, better, faster. The conversation is powerful, proactive and productive.

So you wanna know what's the buzz in OTR?

Second Sunday on Main, the hip, free, street festival, is returning for another five months of music, vendors, shopping, food, fun dancing in the streets Produced by OTR Chamber of Commerce.

The OTR Memory Project will collect personal interviews, family photographs, written recollections, and other evidence of life in OTR. Spearheaded by the OTR Foundation.

Have you been to the new shops on Vine Street? The new wine store at Findlay Market? Theater in OTR? Tell me about it.

Virtual communities are more than just talk with fingertips and keyboards. They can serve as a real vehicle to connect with one another and inspire action through words.

In 2006, my friend Deborah, a marketing-savvy entrepreneur living in Oakley, started Girlfriendology.com, a virtual community for women. Now her talk crosses state lines as she connects women from coast to coast with one another, resources and reinforcement. Engaging in this community conversation, you can connect with women from South Africa, England, Egypt, India, Iran, Japan and everywhere in between!

Through research and reading, Deborah learned that this need for girlfriends was biological. Having girlfriends reduces stress, makes us healthier and certainly makes life a lot more fun. OK, interesting. Seriously, men, how can you argue with that?

Friendships make us more compassionate, aware, caring and stronger. Using conversation as the catalyst, together we can change the world one conversation, one friendship at a time. If you talk with people and get to know them, you care more about them, right? It happens in the office, on the streets, at the clubs, online, with the baseball team.

Today I challenge you to talk with someone you don't know. Yep. A stranger. You're not a child anymore. You can talk to new people. Be bold, compassionate, curious and rewarded. Talk with someone who looks completely different than you do. Smile. What's the worst that can happen?  What did happen?

What great thing have you said about Cincinnati today?

This is the tag line on my emails. I offer it to you to use on your emails too.  After all, I copied it from One Small Group when I saw how Collette closes her emails.  It’s like a smile - best when used often and passed along.

I’ve been using this tag for about a year and get some of the coolest responses.  A couple weeks ago I ran into a friend who reminded me that we haven’t connected in a while.  Betty said,” We need to catch up; besides, I haven’t said anything good about Cincinnati for a while because I haven’t gotten an email from you to remind me.

Today I sent a perfectly business-like email with my closing tag. I got a perfectly business-like reply from Teresa with this postscript:

“An amazing view from any angle!” – that’s my “something good about Cincinnati” for the day!  In fact, my friend Donna said that last Saturday night over dinner at Celestial.  It is so true!!! Whether from Price Hill, cut in the Hill, Covington, Mulberry Hill, Prospect Hill, Mt. Adams, Eden Park/Gilbert Avenue, Newport, Columbia Parkway. Cincinnati looks amazing from any angle! I think that should become one of Cincinnati’s taglines! Plus, I love how it leans toward a double-entendre!

What’s not to love?  It’s fun and a positive way to learn more about your friends and colleagues, get a good tip on a cool place to go or something to do.  So spread the word, the germ, and the viral contagious message. Tell me what great thing have you said about Cincinnati today.

Soapbox blog #2

Thank you for the interesting feedback on my previous blog. I certainly concur with “getbackcincy” on the urban redevelopment theme.

At a time when many cities are struggling to maintain some semblance of a downtown, Cincinnati is making tremendous strides.

I had the opportunity to attend a NAACP event on Saturday night and spent half an hour speaking with some women from Wisconsin in town for the convention.

They were impressed by the activity around Fountain Square, the construction beginning at the riverfront and the overall vitality of our downtown. Sometimes we are so focused on the negative that we fail to realize just how far we’ve come downtown and how much better off we are compared to many mid-sized cities around the country. That said, we still have far to go, but it’s exciting to have someone from out of town tell you that you’re on the right track.

Imagine Cincinnati three years from now: phase one of the Banks is complete, the streetcar line is operational, the new School for Creative and Performing Arts is open, and Queen City Square joins our already impressive skyline. I bet you those folks from Wisconsin will be back to see it.

“Long-time Bus Rider” shares some of the concerns we at Metro are hearing throughout the community. The bottom line is that more people want transportation options and as a community we’re going to have to figure out exactly how that takes shape.

Now, some questions for you:  Should Metro buy articulated buses (think bigger bus with an accordion in the middle) to run along our major transportation corridors? Are neighborhoods interested in developing transit hubs to allow for increased community-to-community service? Do we want to see smaller vehicles running in neighborhoods and feeding into main line service?

Please continue to post your thoughts here and let us know. 

I think that for too long people in our community have viewed public transportation as an option only for those who have no option. A choice that isn't a choice at all.

Communities that have seen growth in the last few decades are the ones that realize that viable public transportation means greater freedom for all of us. 

Even if you never take a bus, imagine if Metro's 23 million annual trips were made in personal vehicles. At 80,000 trips per workday, that's 40,000 more cars on our streets and highways each and every day.  40,000 more parking spaces we'd need to build. 40,000 more vehicles polluting the air that our children breathe. Transit allows us to all breathe easier.

For those who do take public transportation, many tell us one of the greatest advantages leaving your car at home and the feeling of freedom that brings with it. The freedom to spend 25 minutes during your commute not cursing at the driver ahead of you, but reading the paper or talking to your neighbors or simply catching up on some sleep.  In the days of $4 a gallon gas, transit means the financial freedom to spend money on a dinner with a loved one or improving your home instead of pouring it into your gas tank.

Living in Over-the-Rhine, working downtown and relying on public transportation has given me a tremendous amount of personal freedom. Many don’t believe me when I say that I haven’t purchased a drop of gasoline this year.
 
There's no doubt that energy concerns are driving greater interest in public transportation in Cincinnati. However, putting energy considerations aside (which is tough to do at the moment), we see that the communities that are consistently attracting young, talented workers - the types of individuals that drive a strong regional economy, are the places that have viable public transportation.

Why? Because mass transit creates dense walkable communities. The types of communities that are marketable to a new generation of urban dwellers who crave excitement and activity. Whether considering massive cities like Chicago or New York, or much smaller ones like Portland or Austin, young people are flocking to cities that have vibrant urban cores serviced by great public transportation.

When we look at our great public spaces and neighborhood business districts within the city, what we too often fail to remember is that these central corridors were built on a fundamental accessibility to viable public transportation.

When we focus on transit-oriented development and more broadly, on transit-oriented communities, we open ourselves up to possibilities our city has not seen before.

Cincinnati is an amazing place to live, work and play. We have multiple unique assets that are crying out for investment - investment that is brought about by economic development and foot-traffic and sometimes, just a little more tender love and care.

This city, this queen of the west, is a fascinating and wonderful place to call home. I'm proud to be part of the amazing work that's being done to help improve our region and I can't wait to see where we will be in just a few short years.

I want to hear from you.  We want you to talk to us about what you want and need Metro to be.  Let’s start the dialogue.  Where do you want to grow?

Among other things, I believe that: 

1. What we think about and focus on is what we create in our personal world.
2. We all possess unlimited power and potential that can be nurtured and developed.
3. Deep self-awareness leads to greater disciplined self-management resulting in optimal creativity and positive success. 

Based on that, I KNOW that I am responsible for my thoughts, words, actions, results, and learning – furthermore, I can impact how I choose to perceive this region, how I live, work, and contribute here.  These statements reveal a snippet of insight into why I see the value in an inside out approach to change and development.

The collective consciousness of people in this area reflects on the state of our region and the types of individuals and businesses we attract (the Law of Attraction works!).  As political, business, education, and other leaders work holistically toward common goals with a unified vision of the city in mind – as exemplified by collaborative efforts on the Agenda 360 as well as Vision 2015 initiatives – the power to influence positive outcomes increase exponentially.  More like minds working together toward a cohesive end game, can make things happen more quickly and effortlessly.

If “Cincinnati isn’t done yet” as stated in a few earlier blogs, then every organization and individual in this area plays a crucial role in making this an ideal place to live, work, and play.  An inside out approach, starting with understanding how each person impacts the whole, could make a difference that works.  Being authentic, self-responsible, and living by the Platinum Rule (treat others the way they want to be treated) could be part of our Team CinciNoKY modus operandi – a new status quo.

In closing, here are a few development ideas for readers who want to lead forward momentum in the region by focusing on their own growth to create change and attract additional quality industry and residents (guess I can’t leave the coach in me far behind – I love to provide value & assist in personal and professional transformation, what can I say):

• Know yourself – define and clarify your strengths, weaknesses, accomplishments, values, mission, vision, drivers, unique brand; who are you and who do you want to be.
• Get crystal clear on what you want – understand the direction in which you are going - do your work/life align?
• Adjust your attitude – choose the way you want to think and feel regardless of what others say or do. Identify the things to be grateful for vs. focusing on the negatives. Be the kind of person you want to attract to the area.
• Be present and self-responsible – showing respect to and value for others in the moment builds stronger relationships; be accountable for your actions.
• Take action – positive change can benefit from effort and risk; be involved in the change you want to see.

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. (Muriel Strode)

The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting for the old, but on building the new. (Socrates)

It’s an exciting time to be living in this region as we blaze fresh trails while forging toward a future of each of our making.

Let me first say that I am one of those people who see the cup as overflowing (most of the time – yes, I have my down days), the world as full of opportunities, and anything as possible.  No, my middle name isn’t Pollyanna…my eyes are wide open.  I only begin this way to highlight the positive perception I have that a LOT of employers in this region care for their people, our community, and the future of the region.  And, Soapbox helps with its’ dedication to showcasing the positive and sustained transformation in the Cincinnati USA region.

The professional and personal development piece of this is evidenced by the work that we specialists in training, facilitation, coaching, and leadership development are called to do every day.

In 2008, I’ve been approached by organizations and individuals requesting coaching and development around various issues including:

    1. A technically competent manager experiencing performance short falls in areas of interpersonal communication skills, negatively impacting relationships with internal staff and clients as well as putting a strain on productivity.

    2. A valued, talented director exhibits an aggressive, confrontational style resulting in loss of staff, avoidance by co-workers, and diminished project outcomes. 

    3. Development challenges of a team in transition, as they are between leaders, causing chaos while forgetting the ultimate mission of the organization.

    4. High level professionals working in environments that don’t support work/life balance, leaving them burnt out and feeling lack of enthusiasm when performing their job.

This gives an overview of just a few of the areas receiving training, leadership development, and career management to retain employees while allowing them greater satisfaction and productivity on the job.  It can cost from 150% up (of an employees annual compensation) to replace a worker. It seems to me that employers who provide growth opportunities are ahead of the revenue game in the long run. And, they are usually places where people like to work.

Fortunately for those of us who live here, there are many organizations that advocate for development in different ways (and I’m not talking about just technical skill training).  Each year multiple businesses (catch phrase including non-profits, health-care institutions, etc.) sponsor high potential candidates for the Chamber leadership programs (Leadership Cincinnati, WE Lead, C-Change – all awesome learning and social networking opportunities by the way).  Several of the large companies in town support women’s leadership networks as inspirational, learning and development tools.  And, there’s more out there too.

I’m sitting at my office in the ‘burbs listening to the waning of the cicadas’ song as I contemplate this blog entry. I’m also smiling thinking about the other fellow bloggers on Soapbox. It’s fun to learn about others’ perspectives and viewpoints of our region. It’s also good to see that many people who are active in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky echo such positive thoughts about this place.

Many years ago (more than 15 and less than 30) I moved to Cincinnati from stints in Boston and Chicago.  I wanted to move closer to where I grew up (Dayton) and to, as I said at the time, get back to the “golly-gee” Midwest where people are friendly and welcome you with open-arms.  I wanted to live in a place where I could get in my car, drive to big open spaces and parks in under 30 minutes, have trees outside my window instead of another big tall building, and be close to a cosmopolitan area with great arts and entertainment available without living smack dab in the middle of the hustle and bustle (o.k. so that was “back in the day” when gas cost $1.30, a stamp was .20, and a dozen eggs cost .84 according to the wonders of Google).

Two weeks after arriving from Chicago, the large client assigned to me at the Ad Agency where I was hired, left the agency.  My furniture and belongings hadn’t been moved here yet from up north, and I was nervous that the deal with my new employer might fall through.  Fortunately things worked out and I’m glad to have been able to stay.

I recently saw Jack Rouse at a C-Change session and we were remarking about some of the changes we’ve encountered over the years - which in a round-about way leads me to the topic at hand…developing personally and professionally in our home town.  (I don’t usually like to name drop but it was a good segue into the topic).

My experience has been positive with regard to growth and development in CinciNoKY.  It’s probably why I chose the profession I’m in – business and life coaching.  As past president of the now defunct local coaches association and through networking with executive and career management coaches, I associate with colleagues who are active in helping people do their jobs better while also finding greater satisfaction (it’s been proven that those who enjoy their work, perform and contribute at higher levels than those who are unhappy at work).

It’s a pleasure to live in a progressive market where a growing number of local businesses invest in enhancing their work environment, developing strong internal leaders, connecting workers with community contribution, understanding how generational differences impact workforces, being mission and vision driven, and employing training and development for continuous learning and improvement.

It’s apparent in health care, corporations, service providers, arts, non-profits, municipalities, and other arenas.  A past client who leads his organization recently expressed to me that they frequently evaluate staff, the culture, assignments, etc. to ensure being current with changing times and needs of the business.

An oft recited quote seems to apply to much of the development that is going on both inside local companies and within this community with efforts like Agenda 360 and others…

“Be the change you want to see in the world” (Ghandi).

It’s a great time to be in Cincinnati as it develops from the inside out.