Collaboration vs. Competition, or, "Same Ole Same Ole vs. ...Something Different?"
It seems it's time for something different. The "same ole same ole" approach just doesn't work. Our community has suffered for too long from silo-focused plans and deeds instead of recognizing that we are all part of something bigger. Something that is being acknowledged as the most innovative place in the country.
From the diligent research activity at OSU, its ripple effect outward, through our cities' entrepreneurial bootstrap programs, small business support systems, and simple but strong grassroots creativity and support for new ideas, our potential as an economic hotspot for the state and the country is substantial. From signature research centers to garage start-ups, we are bursting at the seams with energy and optimism for the future.
For two years, since its inception, WiN, has been an exciting, novel approach to bringing our community together, to be a coalescing force for creativity, innovation and resources to better our economic vitality and quality of life. For the first time, we have a structure and network in place that brings together the creative class with the legislator and the civic leader with the entrepreneur. THANK YOU for helping making this happen.
Your participation in program planning, sponsoring, volunteering, or simply just showing up and being part of the WiN event and network shows your willingness to be part of something greater than the sum of its parts.
Is this enough and have we done enough? Is it time to pack up and go away saying "Mission Accomplished?"
Silos still exist and a lack of understanding a bigger picture dominates. Even within our own partner organizations, "turf", "power", "territory", and most unfortunately, ego, still get in the way. WiN is not one industry, one univeristy or one city working independently. We are a group of dedicated people willing to put our blood, sweat and tears on the table and leave our egos at the door to help create something bigger than ourselves.
Do we have time to do otherwise?
Which makes more sense? To ration our energy and resources toward something bigger than ourselves and show leadership, or to hoard our resources and grow our own "turf"?
Think about it... Your response is important.
Tags: economic, leadership, thought, vitality
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on -
Time for us all come together to make things happen! Lead, follow or get the h%$# out of the way! We will accomplish a lot more together than apart. Town Hall tonight at CH2M Hill Alumni Center will prover again what a bunch of under funded volunteer can accomplish by working together. WiN networking event at the Downward Dog tomorrow evening is another small step toward cooperation and collaboration. The Southern Willamette Angel Network is having their business plan competition today in Medford. The OGA provided matching funds to all the statewide business plan competitions this year for the first time including the WAC which will be held May 12th on the campus of OSU. Things are happening....don't get discouraged. Lets roll up our sleeves and get after it! See ya tomorrow night at WiN!!!! Go Beavers!
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Permalink Reply by Jef Jelten on -
De-centralization, aka "Localization" is the name of the game going forward. This is by no means a simple task. It is in no way about "reverting back" to something but is all about inventing an entire new regional, structural economic system.
The future focus will be primarily about three things;
Energy
Water
Food
This will happen whether we acknowledge it or not. This is an opportunity to get a jump on the inevitable which is what innovation and venture capital is all about.
Oregon has the potential to become the most productive and profitable food producing regions in the nation. Oregon and Organic are practically synonymous.
The United Nations just came out with a report about the future of food production called "UN Report on How to Feed the World's Hungry: Ditch Corporate-Controlled Agriculture"
http://www.alternet.org/story/150158/new_un_report_on_how_to_feed_t...
Oregon has the innovative spirit, the water, the soil, and the workforce to become the shinning example of the New Resilient, Sustainable Food Production industry. Everything from soil health, farming practices, permaculture, to hyper-efficient processing and yes, there is also a serious need for high tech solutions through out the system.
While the rest of the Country is focused on advancing an already dying industrial agricultural system, making the wrong decisions and bad investments, attempting to keep an outdated food system alive, we can become the go to source for how to do it right on a regional level that is easily replicated elsewhere. Oregon can generate solutions and products that will have the Nation and indeed the entire world beating a path to acquire.
…or we can just focus on developing some apps for mobile computing for all of those unemployed, hungry, angry, disenfranchised people around the world to help facilitate the revolution….kidding!
P.S. We have a lot of this penciled out already for those who want to make it so.
Cheers!
Jef Jelten
SunSavor
541-758-0793
cell-231-3910
grin@peak.org
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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You the man Jef! Right on Bro. We be looking at food processing at CMAIP here in Benton County and Corvallis. Missed ya at the Sustainability Coalition town hall meeting. I got to be a discussion leader and we had a younger (20's something) fellow at our table from Maryland who was praising out efforts here. Really good to hear.
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Permalink Reply by Alex Brandt on -
Just came across this interesting article about sustainability and renewable energy using Bio-Energy domes.
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Permalink Reply by Alex Brandt on
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Oregon is making good progress in setting itself as a leader in alternative energy sources such as exploring technology for harnessing wave energy to provide a more sustainable future. There are other simple reforms that can be initiated to improve the quality and health of people, such as ban the use of high fructose corn syrup in food and encouraging national chain grocery stores to work with local farmers in their store area. Market of Choice is a leading example of how a grocery store chain can work with local farmers. Businesses, entrepreneurs and venture capitalist working together will definitely be more productive and yield more positive results over the long term. At the same time, we can not forget to invest in people.
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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I like what you are saying Alex. People are often overlooked and lost in the process of innovation and yet it is where the ideas come from!!!!! Keep the good ideas and good people working on solutions to our problems.
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