Develop This: Economic and Community Development

If you have not looked at your calendar lately, we have a surprise for you.  There are only a few months left.

In this episode, Dennis and Jason discuss 5 things that you need to do now- before time runs out in 2021.

Words matter.  The phrases you choose to speak, write, or text can have an profound impact on the receiver of those messages.

In this episode, Dennis shares a recent experience where things got personal.  He was the receiver of poorly-chosen words that will very likely have lasting effects on a professional relationship.

Choose your words wisely, folks!

Jason has long been an advocate of chambers of commerce and economic development groups merging into a single organization.  However, a recent impromptu conversation has posed a really good argument for keeping them separate - the ability to pay attention to the small mom and pop business.

Tune in to this episode as Dennis and Jason share the merits and drawbacks of merging these types of organizations within a community.

This week's episode sponsored by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.

It's no secret that Dennis is a movie buff.

Although many of us have stories fit for tv, Marvel has not yet dedicated a series to the local economic developer.

So until Hollywood releases a film where the local economic developer is the hero, this eclectic list of 11 movies about founders, entrepreneurs, documentaries, and large companies will have to do.

At the end of the podcast, Dennis also has a suggestion for the actor of choice to play him in a future feature film. 

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.