Are Growth Issues Causing You To Lose your Marbles? That’s Okay.

Because business development issues can be brimming with emotion, and positive change is often insulated with unchecked fear, finding a simple illustration that brings it all together is a good way to begin visualizing a common ground.

Take for example the child’s game that consists of a small, horizontal box, with 3 miniature metal marbles, or bee-bees inside, that roll around. The object of the game, with a little help from gravity, is to gently roll all three of the marbles until they come to rest in one of three indentations…all at the same time. The trouble is once you get one or even two of them secure, you have to keep moving the box, ever so slightly, to maneuver the third marble in. And for most of us, one or both of the first marbles dislodges which causes us to reconsider whether this game is even fair.

At the risk of oversimplifying a complex problem, community growth and development can be likened to this simple but sobering game. Each element of the process involves so many different variables that just when one object is secure and everyone is happy, it’s time to work on the next one. This can cause the first to bump out of its resting spot. What seems easy now changes without warning. And, unless you’re patient and willing to keep working on the goal, you’re in for an interesting ride.

Sure. We’re comfortable with how things are. Our little marbles are all set in the holes we like, and we don’t want anyone shuffling things around and dislodging our lives. But the landscape has and will continue to change because our communities are living, breathing things.

To keep our communities vibrant and the value of our homes and businesses thriving, most of our civic leaders are actively and responsibly working to attract new business and talent alike. This will bring people who need space and resources to grow in a positive way. Those new residents often discover that some are uncomfortable the game of marbles shifting. Emotional roadblocks are set up, fear permeates our ability to find answers, and people may shut their minds and their front gates to change or adjustment.

Growth is commonly an issue of enormous emotion, opinion and upheaval and with it comes the natural reaction to pull back and stop the shaking to make sure we’re all doing the right thing for everyone. Or in essence, to make sure every marble gets in the right holes, all at the same time.

The consequences of stopping growth, even for a short time, carries an abstract theory that sways some to say no growth will offer time to breathe and plan. That may be like stopping AFTER you see the avalanche start, so you can build faster skis. Once you stop, there’s no way out of its path. The ideal solution brings checks and balances into play during growth, so as not to bring the entire engine to a halt, damaging the moving parts. These solutions involve many facets but all involve moving forward in a responsible fashion.

Development is the machinery of our cities, counties and states. The ability to attract good teachers, experienced civic leaders, and competent administrators, and even securing the value of our homes is all tied to positive, managed, consistent growth. Intersections, roads, schools, off ramps, parks, etc. are all constructed and often paid for fully by a builder as a part of an overall city plan.

So how do we create positive solutions? How do we plan and anticipate the future instead of shun it? How do we make sure our city leaders have put desirable city plans in place for the builders to adhere to? The same way we prepare our children for life: Knowledge and involvement.

Get involved. This is an important election year. Huge initiatives are on the ballet. Passionate leaders are running for office. Economies are resting precariously on issues that must be addressed. Seek out the opportunity to learn about development when you can and learn to understand the machinery of government. Organize positive local groups to keep development and your community leaders responsible and accountable. Encourage city planners and support building proposals that offer new, intelligent zoning and transportation solutions, and celebrate the adoption of community overlays that create imaginative, aesthetic and cost effective development. We all want community plans that nurture and innovate. You can help make it possible.

(c) 2008 Community Growth and Development
Camine Pappas
C and Company

*** Are you a home builder seeking a new way of thinking - a paradigm shift, that will take your business to the next level, even in times of recession? Contact Camine to set up a consultation, or write a comment below. ***