Do you need to expand your creativity?

In this episode, Jason explores his love/hate relationship with ideas and shares a tool he recently discovered (thanks to James Altucher) to help the brain be more creative: idea lists.

Before you roll your eyes at the idea of creating a list of ideas (that's exactly what Jason used to do!) tune in to learn about the benefits of idea creation and the daily exercise of stretching the brain.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Learn more about James Altucher

Sometimes, bad things happen in your community.  As an economic development professional in the field, it is easy to get down when a project goes south, an employer closes their doors, or a community endeavor fails.

What you have to remember is this: Control What You Can Control

What is within your power?  In this episode, Jason and Dennis discuss the variables within your power when things go south.

Although it is easier said than done, do the things within your power, and take the rest in stride.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Recruiting and training talent consumes time and resources.  Why would any leader invest in talent knowing that, someday, the talent may walk out the door?

In this episode, Dennis interviews Dan Culhane, President & CEO of the Ames Chamber of Commerce.  Dan has a history of identifying talent and then nurturing and developing members of his team.  Some of his hires have left the organization to take top jobs elsewhere.

Dennis peppers Dan with a variety of questions from the ROI on training to mistakes ambitious individuals can make when trying to get ahead.

Whether you are new in the business or leading an organization, you won't want to miss this insightful episode.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Connect with Dan Culhane

Ames Chamber of Commerce

In this episode, Forbes contributor Mark Perna is back to discuss the current state of the US workforce and what the economic development community can do about it.

This show is also your invitation to join Mark on the upcoming 2021 Education with Purpose: Call to Action live virtual event on October 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM EST.  Register Here

To thrive in a rapidly changing world, young people need a dynamic competitive advantage in their education and career journey. Unify and empower your organization and stakeholders to deliver this advantage at the 2021 Education with Purpose: Call to Action. It’s time to shift the paradigm in education, workforce, and economic development—and make students career-ready, period.

Shift the paradigm in your community
• Start walking in lock-step toward a shared vision
• Give students a dynamic competitive advantage
• Bridge the national skills gap by starting with the “awareness gap”
• Empower all students to become career-ready, period

Show Links:

Education with Purpose: Call to Action Event

Connect with Mark Perna

Mark Perna Bio

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic communications and consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international generational expert, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people.

Mark, who serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC, has helped countless parents, schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations across North America to connect more effectively with the younger generations. He delivers more than 70 virtual and in-person keynote speeches annually and spoke at Harvard University by special invitation

At Forbes.com, Mark publishes articles as a weekly contributor and records monthly Leadership videos produced in partnership with the Forbes editorial team. He has published many op-eds in national publications and interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts. Every weekday, he hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate micro-podcast covering insights on education, careers, and workforce development. His award-winning bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations.

At TFS Results, Mark’s team of talented professionals share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. With industry-leading products like the Career Tree® and EnrollTrack and an array of in-person and virtual professional development solutions, TFS Results is working to reshape the future of education in America. The company proudly partners with schools, colleges, businesses, and statewide organizations across North America to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance rates.

In this episode from the archives, Amanda Mack shares her thoughts about placemaking efforts and aligning those efforts with other essential government services.

Although she recently left the City of Spenser, Iowa for a position in Watertown, SD, this is one of the most popular episodes in the Develop This! archive.  Jason and Amanda talk city finances, community improvement projects, the balance of power between city staff and elected officials, and much more.  She closes the episode with tips economic developers should know when working with municipal governments.

Amanda's suggested reading list:
Love Where You Live by Peter Kageyama
Water the Bamboo by Greg Bell

More about Amanda

Your job is to build, maintain, and engage a network of leaders to make things happen in your community.  However, people and positions often change as new folks come to town.  What is your process for engaging with newcomers?

In this episode, Jason share why his old strategy failed and why a different approach can be far more successful.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

Can economic development organizations raise money in small towns?  You bet.

Small towns have a unique ability to rally around cause - be it economic development plans, community projects, or community festivals.  With the right plan in place, more money can often be raised than anyone thought possible.

In this episode, Mark Bergethon, Capital Campaign Specialist with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, shares three case studies of successful fundraising campaigns in small towns: Vermillion, South Dakota; Holdrege, Nebraska; Clear Lake, Iowa.

Connect with Mark Bergethon

More About Convergent Nonprofit Solutions

Getting a project over the finish line can test your patience and those around you.  When your project hits a wall, you have two options: give up or find another path forward.

In this episode, Dennis shares his experience with going all in on a project- in this case, joint education center.  He refused to give in and was willing to push his chips to the table.  Tune in to find out more.

Sometimes, we just get down.  You put your blood, sweat, and tears into a project only to lose it.

It's okay to get the blues, but you can't stay there.

In this episode, Dennis shares strategies and tips for getting through the tough times and rebounding after a big loss.

Do you dress for success or do you dress to do you?

Although Dennis and Jason have never been called upon for fashion advice, in this episode, they wax poetically about the value of attire in both confidence and in making first impressions.

Tune in for strategies to consider when selecting your attire as well as discussion of the post-pandemic environment for acceptable dress policy standards.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.