“Picturing the use of strengths connects people to self-belief, which in turn makes goal achievement feel easier. It is a self-affirming cycle that leads to faster growth.” –Shelley Winter When you have coaching conversations, are you and your direct reports on the same page? Or do you feel like sometimes you’re speaking different languages, like…

“The future is entrepreneurial. Imagine being able to work with a company in its infancy stage, and in five to 10 years the company becomes one of the most forward thinking enterprises challenging and changing the world.” –Gilberto Salinas Have you identified a specific industry that you’d like to focus on attracting to your region?…

“Whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.” –Serena Williams The first half of 2021 might have felt like it flew by in less than the blink of an eye. Think back to the beginning of the year; did you set goals? Do you know where you and your organization…

“Inclusion in economic development is an important conversation as we look to digitally upskill people who may not have had the opportunity.” –Barry Broome How is your region looking at improving digital skills of your labor force? Is there a realization brewing that some training program time lines are simply too long to be impactful?…

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson Have you ever been on a project with someone who is excited about the opportunity? Could you feel your own excitement growing as you were around them? Somehow that energy was contagious! On today’s episode, Faye Davis talks with Carla Sones about enthusiasm in the…

“Don’t get discouraged; there is a time and a season for everything. You’ve got a lot of runway when you’re young.” –Brian Sillitto Today’s world is incredibly dependent on instant gratification. Younger generations tend to have a lower threshold of boredom and an increased need for constant entertainment. With the rise of all things on-demand…

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.” –Carly Fiorina Data can be a really intimidating topic to talk about as economic developers. What types of things should you be tracking? What out-of-the-ordinary items are site consultants looking for? Which numbers should you be keeping a pulse on to help support…

“Keep them engaged in the process and not just when you need something. It’s about building a relationship on trust and mutual respect.” –Ryan Combs Whether it’s business leaders, regional elected officials or community partners, building a reputation for trust and reliability is key in getting projects across the finish line. But, as is often…

“Modern agricultural businesses have and are changing to become more efficient as technologies and marketing needs change and drive more profitability.” –Andrew Carty What are the implications from the unforeseen logistical situations such as the Suez Canal blockage and the Mississippi River shut down? Why does this affect international trade, and how is the agricultural…

“Any information that can help us tell the story of a community better is always something that will help create an advantage for a community.” –Kyle Neu Do you ever just want that exclusive information from a site consultant? Do you go back and forth on what information to share? Carla Sones talks with Kyle…