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George Nemeth · Joe Roman on 10K ideas
August 12th, 2008
Full disclosure: I’m friends with several of the people working on this, and I really want to see it succeed:
Joe Roman, president and chief executive officer of the GCP said, “We wanted to partner with 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas to bring Cleveland this exciting and fun afternoon of activities presenting all the projects that are building positive momentum in Cleveland. 10,000 is an organization of enthusiastic and committed grassroots leaders who are working to strengthen this region. This event provides a great opportunity for us to showcase the business community’s economic development initiatives, and we in turn, can hear from you about your 10,000 visions of Cleveland.”
The event is Sat 9/6 from 11AM-4PM at the Galleria. The goal is to have 10K people there.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Sounds like something Jeff Goldblum would see from the eye of THE FLY. Oh. Excuse me. The Fly+.
I wonder if they’re giving out special fly-eye glasses, to help focus.
Seems like 10,000 of anything would result in diffraction, distraction, and lack of purpose or intent. Confusion.
Who are the individuals who are working on this? The web material I saw was pretty evasive, or at least not at all forthcoming. Nobody’s putting their name on this thing, kind of like those anonymous benefactors at Craig and Susan’s Key Tower shindig the day of the big snow this past spring.
Stealth advocacy–is this a new concept?
August 13th, 2008 at 2:48 am
Interesting, very interesting. Just wondering, are a med mart supported but taxation without representation and casino gambling 2 of the 10,000 ideas? Or recommending bailing out FCE of Tower City in the name of a new Convention Center?
Cleveland is a total trip anymore.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:17 am
In open networks, the challenge of strategy shifts. For one, strategy is no longer a logical, linear process. It is circular and iterative.
Articulating a vision (a relatively easy task) is less important than finding coherence around strategic outcomes (a far more difficult assignment).
(Indeed, creating 10,000 visions can stimulate creativity but work against a sense of coherence.)
With open networks, carefully defined strategic outcomes become critical to learning, the most important strategic capability in complex, shifting environments. A civic process of continuous learning and adaptation drives long term transformation.
To move a city or a region, people need three components to their strategy. First, they need some clearly defined outcomes in which they believe (think elevator speech).
Next, they need a map. No matter how compelling your language about the future, people will not move unless they think they can get from here to there.
Finally, people need a process of accountability and learning, a discipline for translating ideas into action and learning what works.
To make all this work, leaders need personal integrity and a commitment to transparency. Trust is the engine that drives collaborative investment in open networks.
The measure of this event will be what follows.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
An additional thought:
With strategy, the art of the practice comes in finding the hidden balance points: between open participation and leadership direction; creativity and coherence; flexibility and focus; autonomy and accountability.
The new president of CWRU appears to be succeeding in finding these balance points, based on the PD’s recent profile.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
The Land of 10,000 Elevator Speeches?
Time for some simplicity, and some focus.
Columbus had a simple and easy solution, years ago when they were ascendant and bypassing Cleveland and Cincinnati in attracting growth, and it went something like, “Darn, I really love this place.”
Instead of talking about visions of what we want (which implies we don’t have things yet, that we’re incomplete, lacking, and deficient), we need to focus on the picture of what we have, how rich we are already, and how great it is to be here.
In the process, we must bypass lack-thinking.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Thanks for the comments, fellas. They’re right in line with what I’d expect. Suffice it to say that my friend Paul has talked with me for quite a while about “Instructions from the Cook”, bought several copies of the book (to share with the core group of 10K ideas), and has had me at 10K ideas events to talk about it. There’s even plans to buy copies of the book for the board at the GCP. Snark all you want, but I’m optimistic about what my friends are doing.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
George, thank you for sharing the information about the event. I appreciate your support and endorsement.
I caution your posters against get too hung up on the vision piece of the event. “Share your vision” is one part of the event–it’s a way to get people involved right from the moment they register and to demonstrate that we all have a role in making these visions reality. Most of the visions focus on the vitality of Cleveland.
The other way we’re getting people involved is through the multitude of activities that will be offered from the universities, GCP partners like NorTech and JumpStart, and also from other groups that are doing their part to make Cleveland a better place.
We would love to have 10,000 people come down (seeing as we’ve partnered with 10,000 Little (micro) Ideas on this event it would be a nice round number). But we’ll be really pleased to have even half that many people make the trip downtown to learn about all things that are happening on multiple economic development fronts in a fun and interactive way.
Tim Ferris, you’re funny and way too suspcious. The Greater Cleveland Partnership partnered with a group of grassroots leaders who have been doing events around town for the last year or two. They call themselvels 10,000 (www.10000littleideas.com) and we’re working with them to create an event that would appeal to a wide variety of people — not just the usual mix of business leaders and economic development experts. This is our first time trying something like this, but we hope to make it a regular event.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Point taken. I’m ready to be a believer in these sorts of initiatives. Actions speak louder than words.
I guess being a history buff I’m a little skeptical as I see Cleveland’s situation similar to what Alexander Hamilton wrote about in the Federalist Papers. That the State’s leaders wouldn’t buy into a Federal government because they as leaders would lose relevance.
With thought in mind I’m having a little trouble envisioning Cleveland’s public/private leadership, which has essentially remained the same during Cleveland’s decline, embrace a concept that will make them less relevant and reduce their power base.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Things like this are fine, but they may be as much “feel good” as substantive. There are’t really very many “new” ideas, and the good news is that “new” ideas aren’t really needed to drive an economy. It’s not difficult to see what has worked in the past and in other regions to create an environment in which things that work can flourish.
Economies are driven forward by entrepreneurship. Therefore, Northeast Ohio needs to encourage, support, and attract entrepreneurs. That includes creating and financing support organization like JumpStart and BioEnterprise (only for as long as they are needed); creating lots of early stage capital; funding grant programs for early technology development; keeping tax rates low so that success is not punished or driven away; and creating communities that are attractive to the young, the talented, and those aspiring to success (the Euclid Corridor and street-level restaurant culture downtown are great). It’s not much more complicated than that.
The most important thing we can each do to contribute to a vibrant economy is to identify, examine, and shed our own faulty opinions about what needs to be done (including the falsehood that we need “new” ideas) and instead examine the evidence about what works. Then we each need to support people and initiatives that are consistent with the evidence about what works, and abandon those that are not. Choose empiricism over political philosophy, if you will.
It may be shocking and unpopular to say this, but it is we, as much as our leaders, who hold back success when we insist that leaders support things that are unproven (or worse, proven not to work) because we have been falsely educated to believe a philosophy that is not consistent with–or contradictory to–the evidence. Let’s insist NOT that our leaders bring us “new” ideas, but that they bring actionable initiatives with evidentiary support.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
our leaders?
August 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Is this still being used as an incentive for participation?:
What’s your vision for Cleveland?
Enter to Win $1,000
10,000 Visions of Cleveland Event
Date: September 6, 2008
Time: 11:00 to 4:00
Place: Galleria on East 9th St. and St. Clair Ave.
Parking: Parking options
Cost: $10.00 per person and children 12 and under get in for free
To enter the event you must have your Registration Receipt
August 13th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I am not trying to throw a towel on any idea, but if these events are meant to attract meaningful input, perhaps, in the future, schedule the contest with an existing community event that has a built-in audience. Just a thought.
BTW, I can’t go, because I work and most of my neighbors work Saturdays, too. Many are working two jobs. My vision for Cleveland would be a city that works because diversity can work, if “our leaders” stop lowering the standards for living together.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
One of the things we’ve learned in talking to people about the simple community building “recipe” ideas in the book is that there are many communities where people have been so leader-dependent that it has atrophied their collective imaginations. I welcome any attempt to reawaken and strengthen this capacity. And in my world, 10,000 ideas in a region like this is what I would call a “good start” with MANY more new conversations and collaborative actions and engaged gifts required.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I am going to give you an example of how our leaders erode our community. Cleveland’s outdoor swimming pools are priceless amenities–better, in many cases, than the pools found at pricey health clubs. But, the top administrators this year decided to forgo the shower rule and the swim attire rule. Why? Because they decided “our population” was too poor to afford swim attire and that it would be culturally offensive to require a shower before entering the pool. The result–unruly, unmanageable–teens jumping into the pool with their baggy (bacteria-laden) pants, shirts and underwear. As my neighbor, who hosted a community meeting to address drug deals across from his house, remarked yesterday: these “kids” have cell phones. They can’t afford a suit?
August 13th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
So, I’ll take the $1,000 prize, now, and give it to Passport Project, because they are making a difference and bringing people together to celebrate diversity
August 13th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
@jackriccuito: ideas and vision are one thing, inviting people to participate, then creating small, meaningful acts is another. I agree with Ed that “the measure of this event will be what follows” (though I disagree with him that articulating a vision is a relatively easy task). In a recent phone conversation with Paul, he suggested that after an event like the one on 9/6, we immediately go out and do something—like picking up trash in downtown. I agree since the energy that’s creative at so many of these events is dissipated while ideas get approval by “our leaders” or unneeded consensus in created.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Ideas are a dime a dozen. Execution is what matters.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
George and Jack, the one thing I wasn’t clear on in the book was regarding the concept of engaging partners (I probably don’t have your terminology right…my apologies).
Anyway, doesn’t who you engage with, from an organizational standpoint, say a lot about the trust issue you write about? And building trust with your audience?
August 13th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Doug I think you’re referencing the “improbable collaborations”, the innovations that happen at the edges of networks where people who don’t normally collaborate look for ways to do just that. It’s interesting in the model that “ideas” isn’t even one of the four core conversations that build community. Thanks for asking.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Continuing, in the model, ideas are addressed in a more focused way as vision, invitation, asset, and small acts conversations. This guarantees action aligned with dreams that engage the gifts of the community in new ways.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Very interesting in that people always want to jump to the ideas first. I guess that’s the easy part. Personally, having been involved in a good number of start-ups I always advise people that ideas are always welcome but fighting for them and aligning connections for follow through and execution determine the success of implementation.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
George, the comment clock is off by 4 hours.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I see that no one wants to touch diversity with a ten foot pole. Some things never change. Welcome to Cleveland.
August 14th, 2008 at 1:47 am
lmcshane, I’ll address “diversity.” It has lost meaning and become just a way for one group of people to moralize to another. The concept of diversity originated in biology, where genetic diversity was thought to have meaning. The concept has been distorted into a conversation about race. Using the term is a great way to deaden a conversation. Write something interesting about variety…
August 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I agree with Jonathan. Diversity has become a corporate buzzword typically addressed with a program. In “Instructions from the Cook”, it would fall under Shadow Conversations since we’re talking about people who aren’t in the room (instead of inviting them to the discussion).
August 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Meaningful acts…how about defining the community we want to see? I want to see a neighborhood community that takes care of itself. In Brooklyn Centre, like Tremont, we have to define our boundaries, because we can’t take care of every one. Our neighborhood is starting to make everyone appreciate a common vision. Fortunately, I have neighbors who aren’t afraid to speak up and confront ugly behavior, when they see it.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
George–so, what type of conversations actually inspire change in “our leaders?”
August 14th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
George:
Articulating a vision is easy…
I see Cleveland as a Midwest oasis of culture and creativity.
That was pretty easy (took about 30 seconds).
Now here is the hard part: Coming up with the strategic outcomes that move the vision into action.
Now that’s tough.
You might look at Janesille, WI. Forward Janesville (similar to the GCP) just did a brainstorming session and come up with 400+ ideas about the future of Janesville.
http://snurl.com/3fzu0
Now what?
(Seen in another way, without strategic outcomes, visions can easily drift off to hallucinations.)
August 14th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Why should we listen to anyone who’s involved in promoting the medical mart debacle? Speaking of things that are proven not to work. Let’s recall that GCP was busted here on BFD for publishing and defending completely made-up revenue “projections” for the convention center.
GCP has no credibility.
My big idea, and you don’t even need to go to the Galleria to hear it, is to cut out the fraudsters and manipulators.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I am with Mark on the feel good event. Here’s a book recommendation:
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/216937423
Read through. Discuss. Give up
August 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
i throw my growl towel for action
when will we finally talk it out enough then see some action. when miles kennedy had a vision for waterloo he put up his own money risked and lost but won a few too.look at waterloo and there is significant improvement from private investment.why do the pols need to use up the tax money for other millionaires ideas instead of directly to the needest areas. gateway, browns stadium,4th st. on and on it goes, but buckeye rd. st.clair,kinsman, fleet, we have to beg and beg to get crumbs of money for any projects. we need the rich suburbans who left the grit of city life behind to pony up some cheddar in copious amounts in all areas of this city. we need the leaders to actually lead not steal our hard earned money and heartfelt energy for change.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Private investment. With risk, we get rewards. How do we retain the vulnerable middle class stake in the city… and heartfelt energy for change? Stop pandering to millionaires. Well said–Michael.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:54 am
That isn’t a vision, Ed, it’s a bumper sticker.
I don’t know, Laura. Maybe we need to ask them.
August 15th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Gosh, Amanda. Why would anyone who cares about civic affairs have any cause to be suspicious of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, or its predecessor, the Growth Association? Is it possible you’re that naive about the hundreds (or perhaps thousands) of ways those groups have fueled public suspicions over the years?
August 16th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Personally I like the idea. My other thought is that if you have an idea and can get just a few people to work with you on that idea, and make enough effort and noise about it, good things could happen. Because I don’t think we make noise anymore, at least not consistently. Our leaders are so NOT used to us advocating for anything that they will be bowled over by what we do and what we ask of them. This is my new strategy lol.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
George:
My point, exactly. Visions are too often bumper stickers.
But Cleveland already has a vision focused in a 2020 citywide plan available here:
http://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/cwp/SummaryImp.php
August 20th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
I’ve been to a few of these gatherings given by these same group of very bright individuals and they have been quite informative. However, I would like to see more follow-up sessions on previous issues rather than yet another new event/social gathering.