Functional Downtown Spaces: Culture and Functionality as a Branding Opportunity

The downtown for small and medium towns are an important center of commercial activity but are ill-prepared to take on the challenges of a more modern global environment.  As city leaders decide the fate of the future of their towns by considering the benefits of downtown revitalization projects, it is helpful to move beyond just commerce and services to see how a downtown can also be a cultural center that creates new opportunities in business, values, and branding.

Research on medium sized towns found that it is beneficial to include cultural space in the overall efforts of revitalizing downtown districts (Pazder, 2011). Business districts should be seen through a lens of commerce and culture to help ensure they are vibrant and functional. Cultural identity becomes part of the town's heritage and can make it attractive to new businesses.

Small and medium towns should seek ways to differentiate themselves from larger cities that attract their own demographic. Small town success is rooted in its ability to offer something unique that can't be easily copied by competing areas. Connecting the business district with its historical past blends the new and the old in a way which creates a sense of deep value for residents.

The world is changing through acculturation and globalization. When towns can formulate a sense of identity and a functionality that is attractive to new business and residents, will have an easier time rejuvenating. Skill professionals are often attracted to cultural based cities that provide a valuable lifestyle and business are more likely to invest when the commercial district offers the best chances for success.

Across the country, the old downtown that has sustained commerce for hundreds of years must change to meet modern demands. Transforming the city center into a cultural and functional space offers new opportunities for branding and investment. In turn, that branding can be used to market the town to regional, national and international stakeholders that can put dollars in where common sense city management prevails.

Pazder, D. (2011). The Conception of Cultural Space Revitalization as a Way to Increase Downtown Attractiveness, A Case Study of chose Medium-sized Towns in the Wielkopolska Region. Quastiones Geographicae, 30 (4).

Opening Day of Polo: Rancho Santa Fe Cup & Argentina vs. USA match

Opening day of Polo in Del Mar brought a festive spirit with Sunday Chukkers and cocktail sipping under the California sun. The ponies sprinted down the field and seasoned players continued to make goals with their mallets. Long drives and defensive moves were well played throughout the match. As masters of the game the the ability to hit the ball at nearly full speed shows the amount of practice these players engage in.

The event drew a large crowed that came "donned" in their finest summer dresses and leisure suits. Sipping on the well kept grass and engaging in conversation the event offered food, drink, and plenty of socializing.

On this particular meeting we didn't make our way into the VIP section but went and sat by many of the polo families down on the other side. Spread our blankets, grabbed our favorite beverage and watched the game. Perhaps it was one of the best locations being next to the field and constant visits by the players who's families were sitting next to us.

Polo within the San Diego area is making its way back into a popular sport. The Argentinian team did a magnificent job moving the ball and coordinating their efforts. They were able to gain a solid with over the American team ending in 6-2.

Polo has a long history and started in Persia somewhere around the 6th Century and passed to Asia and Europe. English officers brought it to their home country and it eventually spread to the U.S. New York saw its first polo game around 1860. It made its way to Coronado among military officers and steadily grew a crowd. The sport is played in 12 countries and is seen as a refined activity due to the inherent cost of the game.

Local Polo matches:

http://sandiegosurfpolo.com/schedule-tickets/

Encouraging Businesses to Rewrite Regulations for the Benefit of Themselves and Society

Government spends a lot of time researching and understanding which legislation is beneficial for stakeholders. They don't always get it right and sometimes they get it so wrong that doors close and jobs move overseas. While these are hotly contested issues that make Republican and Democrats burn with anger and spill-out seething rebukes it is an ongoing problem that must be faced!

We can impose regulations from the top or we can partner with industry to create regulations. The top down system is beneficial when industry cannot propose workable legislation. The hammer shall come down and it should be on the side of the people. At least in theory in societies that are "for the people". But....it doesn't need to come down when there are alternatives.

Industry are the masters of their operational flexibility and technical know how so they will have much more specialized knowledge than legislators. Corporate gurus know their business, what will help them grow and what will screech their business to a stop! Industry leaders have something to say about how they can get things done and we are better off giving them our ear.

It makes sense to encourage industry to be stakeholders and propose solutions that can meet the needs of the people and help them maintain their competitive stance. When we look at the issue of pollution it is natural and right to limit our carbon foot print. We all live on this planet and one generation does not have the right to doom the next only for profit.

Industry can put forward and invest in research and proposals that meet society's expectations. We move them from unwilling receivers of legislation to the sculptor that can craft something workable for a larger pool of societal stakeholders. Without helping to lead environmental solutions they will be managed by more archaic methods in the form of regulations.

You might expect industry to be selfish and make propositions that are completely self-seeking in a way that ignores rights of society. This isn't often the case. They have concerns over the environment as well as their competitive position. Government has the ultimate authority to review, adjust and eventually vote on such legislative proposals.

Precisely how industry would come up with this solution is entirely up to them. One could foresee the use of not-for-profit, or research associations, that work on the behalf of the entire industry and not on the behalf of any one sponsor. They research ideas, investigate options, and create solutions for everyone involved. If they can't get it passed there is no reason to make a proposal so they will have to keep going back to the drawing board.

Under this system science will be boosted because it can be profitable to create efficient and more sustainable operations. Where there is no available data, or open questions, the proposals will need to find an answer. That requires the use of scientific procedure, either research already conducted or new research, that fills the "gaps" in the proposal. An incomplete proposal is likely to result in a resounding "no" and requests for additional information.

Instead of demonizing corporations we can push them to find a better way of doing things. It would dumbfound the modern mind if they would prefer arbitrary decisions over those that can also meet their needs. More likely self-interest would push them to jump at the chance to remove what doesn't work with something that does.

The long-term impact can have a profound effect on the economy and society. Millions of jobs may be saved by ensuring legislation is practical and not an undue hindrance to industry. Pulling companies into the solution is better than have a cat-and-mouse game of big money donations that influence political votes or legal "hocus pocus" that side-steps justified legislation. As a nation, we are either finding better ways of creating alignment around societal norms through engagement or we continue to bleed organizations that could not save themselves.

Poem: The Fog Creeps

How Sailing Can Teach You About Processes?

We sail and sometimes we fall behind loosing the race by a boat length. One can argue that it is based on skill level of the crew, the type of boat, or the overall weather. Yet these are only part of the answer. All of them can impact some of the performance of a boat like a Shock 35 in a sailing race. If your falling behind the competition and not making your marks properly then you may want to formulate and practice your processes.

What is a process in a boat? Every time you make a move on a boat such as tacking or jibing there will be a sequence of events. The skipper should call out the action, and upon the direction change the sails are adjusted to the new course. Seems simple but there are lots of different activities that make this action smooth and quick.

There is a sequence related to all activities and the more the crew understands these movements and practices them the better they get! Consider the sequence below:

-Skipper calls out a tact and counts down.
-Ship changes direction.
-As the boat moves into irons the jib sheet is released on one side.
-The jib sheet is pulled is grinded in on the other side.
-Adjustments are made to ensure the telltales are in alignment.

Each one of those actions have many smaller actions and the entire crew adjusts and changes. Identifying these processes and practicing them over and over with different weather conditions and crews helps complete the process with the least amount of wasted time. Eventually, the skills are integrated and people no long need to think about them. It is the culmination of many small delays that impact the final outcome. Winning teams are willing to practice over and over until their processes are mastered!