The Bailey Blog

It’s no secret that the gloomy weather, coupled with the state’s gloomy economy has dampened the typically sunny Mackinac charm at this years Mackinac Policy Conference.  Those thoughts have been a part of many conversations, blogs and tweets here in the past few days.  

Personally, I refuse to succumb to that.  I’m a positive thinker (to a fault, some would say) and I believe wholeheartedly that even the most dire challenges can be overcome.  Not only can they be overcome, but we can be so much better having gone through them. 

This afternoon I sat through an inspiring session – Entrepreneurial Diversification in Michigan.  Patricia Mooradian, president, The Henry Ford, led the discussion focusing on innovation as the critical piece of the puzzle we are working to put back together.  Something she said really hit home with me - “Innovation historically bursts out of crisis.  Michigan’s current climate IS our opportunity.”  We need to ignite a new generation of thinkers and inspire them to dream.  Patricia identified five Key’s to Innovation: Curiosity, Breaking the Rules, Collaboration, Meeting True Needs and Embracing Risks.  This country’s greatest historical innovators (Henry Ford, Thomas Edison) followed that path and helped to shape America’s future, as well as inspiring legions of innovators to come.  We can’t forget the innovators that created those crazy things like computers, e-mail, YouTube, TiVo, Skype, Facebook and Twitter.  They paved the way for us to literally “become” The Jetsons in the way we communicate today.   

Following the Innovation discussion, a panel of dynamic Michigan entrepreneurs – Dennis Archer Jr., Marc Gardner and Edward Walker - shared their stories of success along with Ari Emanuel, founder, Endeavor Talent Agency in California.  Ari is largely responsible for the burgeoning movie industry in Michigan.  What I appreciated most about this panel is that they weren’t up there to brag about their successes and financial rewards.  They were there because they are leaders that believe in this great state and they believe in the people that live here, the talent that breathes in dozens of untapped industries here and most importantly they believe in the future that we can all help to build.  Even Ari, our California guest, shared that belief and determination to help Michigan through this crisis.    

I can’t remember who said it now, but this quote summed up the session perfectly and should serve as a mantra for all of us – “It is possible for ordinary people to choose to be extraordinary.”

It’s clear that we cannot continue to place blame or drag our feet if we want this conversation about Michigan’s dire straights to end.  This is OUR time and we need to get in the game and do something about it.  What will you do? 

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 at 4:43 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.