A few weeks ago, a headline ran in a business report that read: “Denver ‘moved’ to the Midwest.”
At first glance, the headline is humorous. After all, how could an entire city by moved? Companies and families relocate frequently, and there are enough planning, hiccups, and headaches that go into that. So how could an entire city by uprooted and moved somewhere?
Of course, Denver didn’t go anywhere – it’s still right where it always was, right in the heart of Colorado. The headline, as it turns out, simply describes how a homebuilder realigned its regional reporting strategy. But, the story got me thinking about how sometimes our communities do seem to ‘move.’ Cities, like people, change constantly. And, if we’re not ready for the changes that happen, we’re left thinking, “Who moved my city?”
If we stay current in the conversations about progress and why our city needs to be poised to embrace it, we’re not surprised when we find new art galleries, a plethora of wi-fi hotspots, and a vibrant YP scene. But, if we’re outside the loop and think that things are fine the way they are, we’ll find ourselves wondering where our city went.
If it’s even able to move, that is.
Because if your community wants to remain competitive in the quest for young talent, it’s got to be ready to move. And, just like you couldn’t move your home and family overnight, your city can’t be primed to transition properly at the drop of a hat.
The only constant about change is that it will happen. Whether we’re ready for it or not, technology advances, industries develop, and business evolves. As such, our cities can become places that are ready for this change, or they become places that aren’t ready for it. Your community then becomes a place that stays on the cutting edge and is always hotbed for attracting and retaining young talent - or, it is a place that progress forgot and is left behind in the quest for survival.
The world is changing. Your city can move along with it, or it can stay put. The good cities are those that are able to move, and its citizens along with it.
Take a look at your community and ask yourself these questions:
- Where does my city rank on surveys and lists of cool cities, best cities for relocating, or green communities?
- What’s the buzz in my area related to technological innovation?
- When I think of the average citizen of my town, who comes to mind?
YPOs are vital lifelines for our cities if we want to make sure our communities are able to move at the speed of change. Good YPOs prepare cities to move correctly, not so people are left wondering what happened, but so that everyone is packed and ready to inhabit the brave new world of tomorrow.
Video bonus: Check us out as we reflect on these thoughts at a very cool event in Birmingham, Alabama.