Own It

You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.
-Jim Rohn

One of the most powerful things that civic and economic development leaders can do is embrace their whole community, both its strengths and weaknesses. As with personal issues, it is powerful to “own it” in order to move forward, leverage strengths and work on the things that challenge you.

Andrew Davis, author of Town, Inc., does a great job of showing how you can take what you have and where you are to build a unique advantage.

If your community is small and has few assets, celebrate what you do have and build upon it. If your city has neighborhoods that are struggling, dive in to improve them and change the trajectory. Accept the fact that you may have to double down on something different, rather than doing what you’ve always done.

Own your role. Perhaps your organization or business has had an outsized role in the success or failure of your community, or perhaps your organization was created to solve a specific issue. Own your history – however favorable or adverse – and let it drive you to get on with the business of making things better.

-Kenny McDonald

One Columbus Update

• This week, the One Columbus team will travel to New York for meetings with companies and consultants. Back at home, we’ll be at Columbus Business First’s Power Breakfast, where an inside look at Central Ohio’s major development projects will be given.
• One Columbus investors are invited to join the One Columbus team and fellow investors for networking and to hear the latest on the Columbus Region economy at the One Columbus Investor Update on March 17. Speakers will be announced soon. Early registration is available here.