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What’s wrong with NEO?

September 28, 2007 in misc, ohio by JDA

I was working on a post that I realized might cost me every contact I have in Northeast Ohio. It was in response to this post: http://growcleveland.blogspot.com/2007/09/steering-herd.html - that says that those of us that leave NEO suffer from herd mentality and lack information.

I’ll skip the details and get to the meat of my argument: NEO has too many saviors, too many ideas of ways to reshape the region, and too many failed attempts. All this seems to be coupled with a fear to give up power at the top (think Arshinkoff) - which really doesn’t ever lead to change. There needs to be one concentrated effort and there needs to be large scale effort.

The post I pointed to earlier talks about a recruiting incident with 2 people - NEO needs to be talking about 1000s of individuals and about recruiting companies rather than college students. I don’t want to say anymore, because Cleveland doesn’t need anymore talking-head-would-be-saviors-without-real-actionable-plans… and I don’t even live in NEO anymore.

There’s a tremendous amount of talent in NEO - but that’s simply not enough.

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September 30, 2007 at 10:08 pm

Jason J. Therrien

The example shared about 2 people is a VERY small example of issues that many firms in Cleveland have seen when recruiting college graduates. There a plenty of success stories, of which I have seen first hand as well.

Of course NEO needs 1000s of new citizens and companies. However, the easiest to move here are typically college graduates. They are mobile, not tied down with family obligations and don’t require enormous salaries. There are plently of efforts on a larger scale, but none on the college graduate scene like Identi-fyi.

I also agree that we need lots of new companies in the area. But where are these companies going to come from? The odds of landing large companies and their headquarters are enormous. Even the energy to move mid size companies is very difficult. But what about bringing more young blood to the area and the odds increase over time that of some of them end up creating companies that in turn will recruit more to the region.

October 1, 2007 at 9:14 am

JDA

Jason - Thanks for your comments.

1. It is a very small example - which is why I have a small problem with it. Losing two candidates shouldn’t be something that sets off a blog rant that stereotypes all that leave NEO. You should have a large enough effort that for every two lost there are ten more that you have the opportunity to win or lose. Maybe you do, and if that’s the case - who cares about two individuals?

2. You’re right about your target - but I disagree with some of your points. Like cost of living. Is that really a barrier for the best and brightest? If it was a barrier, why would so many leave for cities with higher costs of living?

3. Chicken-Egg. Go after students or go after companies. I hope it works out.

I still feel that I have seen too many efforts that have fallen flat. I hope that this effort works out, and I do want to see NEO succeed. Maybe I don’t know enough about Identi-fyi (which I’ve seen written with and without the dash - if you want to have a strong message it needs to be consistent) but I do feel that I was very well informed of opportunities in the area and that I did not suffer from herd mentality… and yet I still left.

And if it is a problem of herd mentality - then you need to change the herd’s mentality, and embrace the fact that it is herd mentality. Use it to your advantage - don’t write posts that stereotype those of us that leave.

October 1, 2007 at 1:35 pm

Bob Aber

Josh,

Thank you for taking an interest in the IdentiFYI effort. I feel that numbering will help me address your suggestions and comments.

1. Identi-fyi vs. IdentiFYI vs, Identi”fyi”: Yes, I agree that we need more consistency. I chose a typographic name/logo that is sometimes difficult to express in certain outlets (web forms for example). This is something that I will need to address as we grow the brand in the very near future.

2. Chicken vs. Egg: Agreed. There are some very well-funded efforts working to recruit businesses to this region and I am in no position to replace those efforts. What I am hoping to do is to show to potential NEO businesses that we have the assets and resources available that can attract a young and talented workforce. I intend on reaching out to the organizations that are working in this high-level recruitment arena and offer IdentiFYI as a resource for their efforts.

3. Small Example: The example that Jason shared obviously represents only two people, but the situation is repeated quite often around the entire region. I agree that we need to have a pipeline of students that will making losing two nothing to worry about. I am building this pipeline and the IdentiFYI effort will be the entry-point at the college campus level that will faciliate this.

4. Cost of Living: I consistently site this as a reason of concern because it is consistently sited to me as a reason of concern. I know that some individuals will live in extremely expensive cities for their own reasons (think all the interns on Capitol Hill) but we need to stress the type of lifestyle that is available in this town for entry-level graduates as well.

5. Stereotyping Those That Leave: My goal with IdentiFYI is to make all soon-to-be graduates aware of the opportunities and lifestyle that is available in NEO. If they still leave after this is accomplished I will be fine with their decision. I am not fine with people who leave without knowing what the region they left has to offer. These people are often the individuals who bad mouth a region to others due to their own ignorance. I have no idea what took you to Chicago and it is none of my business BUT you seem like a rather informed individual on the activities in the NEO region and I am sure that you made a decision based upon many facts. I highly doubt that you woke up one day and said “I’m moving to Chicago because my friends are moving there.” This is the type of situation that I am seeing on campuses and am looking to change.

Again, I appreciate your post and look forward to your input as the IdentiFYI effort is further built out. Also Go Bucks! I graduated in 2002 and am loving the season so far.