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Success is often measured by our ability to be one step ahead of our competition in the issues we face daily in life, marriage, family and vocation. Our knowledge and life experiences lead us in how we plan and how we prepare for the unexpected. Success can also be weighed on how we respond to the unexpected.
Recently my daughters and my wife planned a surprise 50th birthday party for me. They have in ways been tormented (in a pleasant way) by my ability to stay a step ahead of them. My ability to envision the plot or ending to a movie, to guess their thoughts, or what is in a wrapped gift before opening it. They set the date, and developed a plan. Key in their planning was the date, 2 ½ weeks after my birthday, and the ruse was on. Success hinged on insightful planning and secrecy. “SURPRISE,” it worked, they got me! 60 + friends greeted me as their plan succeeded to perfection. My surprise immediately changed to joy and affection for those I have called friend throughout the years. Later after opening gifts I thanked all for their friendship and support, my final comment was, “in closing I have only one more thing to add, remember JoePriceForMayor.com in 2007.” All laughed and someone commented, “I saw that coming.” My surprise turned to response, and my response was followed with a look to the future and being one step ahead…
Today’s decisions create tomorrow’s outcome. In making no decision we can only expect nothing in return. Joseph Biden, Senator from Delaware once said, first know and acknowledge your own faults before your opponents do it for you. Our community needs to do the same. City leadership has long resisted and restricted change. This has resulted in weak to no economic growth at best. Insufficient planning with specific direction will continue to limit economic growth in Broadview Heights. Over the years opportunity has come and fled and will again if Broadview Heights fails to change direction!
One example of being one step ahead is the McDonald’s corporation. In the 60’s and 70’s demographics were the key to their success, utilizing location along with population and economic growth. Broadview Heights’ resistance to change combined with a non-aggressive approach to economic development has us now playing catch-up. It comes to no surprise that Broadview Heights is one of a handful of communities in Cuyahoga County that does not have a McDonald’s. In fact, Broadview Heights is the largest (by population and size) city in our county without a McDonald’s. Currently the city is steps behind with no plan to catch up and move forward. Ask yourself: why?
Being one-step ahead has given me the momentum for success throughout my business career. To get back in step, Broadview Heights will have to take on a new direction, new leadership with commitment to change and economic growth. I will give attention to our needs. I will establish a plan that provides resolutions and a time line for completion. I will motivate and manage the city’s employees. I will stop the excessive funds spent annually on consultant fees and labor negotiator. I will work with collective bargaining directly, the funds saved by the city will be used to hire new service employees as needed and to pay all employed staff a fair prevailing wage. I will evaluate the cost of the part time law director and all legal fees. With annual costs exceeding $300.000 dollars, Broadview Heights may be better served to now employ a full time law director. I will plan, direct and stimulate the needed economic growth, setting a new course that strengthens the city’s finances. Currently the city cannot afford a multiplex recreation center similar to those of neighboring cities. I will re-evaluate our city recreation center and plan for affordable improvements and additions that will enhance current programs. I will evaluate a segmented recreation development with the hopeful addition to an outdoor swimming pool and water park complex. I will develop and implement a business plan that will improve Broadview Heights today and in the future. Local government can operate on solid business practices and principles with a similar form of accountability. In the “Fall 2006 issue of Northeast Ohio Municipal Leader,” authors Don Polyak and Kerry Smith write; “In today’s world, municipal leaders must operate much more like a CEO. They are now accountable to multitude of business and community leaders, all with competing issues, needs, and goals.” Today’s successful municipalities can and do operate like well planned businesses, we don’t have to look far for examples. How did they do it? How do they do it? By adopting solid business planning today and for the future, always focused on being one step ahead!
JoePriceForMayor.com |
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