“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see the greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” – Edmund Lee
The juxtaposition of beautiful weather to spend time outside on Saturday and rain to keep us indoors on Sunday drove home how ready I am to move forward with our KEDCo team working with clients, partners, and stakeholders to build companies and strengthen our communities.
We continue to find ways to bring people together and this week are pleased to offer virtual sessions of Outside the Fishbowl at 4pm on Tuesday, the Executive Roundtable at Noon on Thursday, and our first-ever Happy Hour at 4pm on Thursday. You can RSVP for any of the events at the link HERE.
As we come together again, I want to share a few things I have learned during these unprecedented times that I plan to carry forward as we continue to adapt to the road ahead:
First, I realize the importance of placing a high value on communication with colleagues, board members, clients, partners, and stakeholders. Not just ‘when I need something,’ but intentional outreach that shows up as a significant part of my calendar and our work plan.
Second, I am mindful of what technology to use and when. If someone uses email like I might use text messaging, then a quick response. If a discussion can happen via a quick phone or video conference, then being respectful of both our calendars, rather than pushing for an in-person meeting.
Third, to borrow from a comment that emcee Rob Young shared at a groundbreaking event last week, I need to make sure KEDCo is recognized for our role as the ‘quarterback’ to provide a single point of contact for job creation and investment projects. Not by words, but by how we go about our work.
One more thing, as we begin to come together again, let’s continue to support the restaurants, shops, and other businesses that make our community unique. There have been so many great stories about businesses adapting and residents responding with support – let’s keep that momentum building!
– Alan Tio
