We have the will, the wits, the people
to be world class
Copyright 2003,The Times Shreveport. Reprinted by permission.
One sign of good leadership is to identify people with promise, give them the training and tools they need to succeed — and get out of their way.
This is our challenge in Northwest Louisiana.
Consultant Belden Daniels is wrapping up a monthslong study of what we can do in this region to position ourselves for success in the 21st century. It’s not strictly an economic study but a socioeconomic analysis of our strengths and weaknesses and a guidebook to positive change.
I read it, as well, as a challenge to a generation.
Those in a position of community, business or political leadership, of wealth or influence of any kind should use that power wisely. They should invest in the people who can create new businesses, new technologies, entirely new sectors of the economy no one has yet envisioned. People with bright ideas who are willing to take a risk.
People who may be in our college classrooms and technical training programs. Children growing up today in Shady Grove or Cedar Grove or Coushatta.
Or young people who were educated here but who have taken their energy and ideas to another state where they are better rewarded.
In short, we need an investment in human capital.
Much of the 300 pages Daniels has produced so far document what we already know: We boast a better quality of life, lower cost of living and more diverse economy than many metro areas our size. But we’ve lost ground in the last 20 years in the sense of sharing the blessings. The gap has grown between the haves and the have-nots. This ill-serves our community now, and it ill-serves our future.
Creating new enterprise is what’s missing from our economic base, Daniels says. That’s a critical loss in this Intelligence Age, when the ability to innovate is the overriding competitive advantage. We need to nurture young entrepreneurs and help them birth new businesses. Especially blacks, whose entrepreneurship lags behind their numbers and their abilities.
And we should quit selling ourselves short. We should set high standards, believe in our ability to meet those standards — and thereby engender respect from the rest of the nation and abroad. “World class attracts world class” is one theme throughout the report.
Daniels’ company, Economic Innovation International, has provided development assistance in more than 37 states and 21 countries. This community, he says, has what it takes to be world class.
We have people of will and wits and courage in leadership roles. People with family and individual wealth who could invest in local ventures rather than out-of-state prospects.
We have institutions in place that with better funding, management or structure could help this community take a great leap forward. Among them: the Alliance for Education and the consortium for Education, Research and Technology.
What we need is commitment
capital — and
a strong dose of self-confidence.
