Time to Apply What We’ve Learned
On a recent shopping trip to Somerset Mall, we visited a store named The Detroit Shoppe, whose goods are all made, or originated, by Detroit-based companies: Made In Detroit apparel, Vernors, Better Made, Sanders, Pewabic Pottery – all the ones you’d expect.
There was also a photo chronology of Detroit dating back to the early 1900s that was very well done. In its heyday, Detroit wasn’t just promising, it was great. The area was a thriving industrial epicenter – in concept, design, engineering and manufacturing – and included a noted cultural and arts community, major retail and fashion establishments, great schools, municipal parks and facilities, quality housing, countless entertainment choices, iconic sports franchises and a diverse, ever-growing, educated populace with a work ethic second to none. Never pretending to be New York, Chicago or Los Angeles, the city was proud of what it was, and many aspired to come here and be part of it all.
Wow. What happened? In football terms, Detroit not only got stopped at the goal line, it got pushed back into its own end zone. Net gain: -100.
In the corporate image/branding business we dabble in here, this is an incredible case study. How could something so good go so badly in the other direction? This wasn’t just a tarnishing of image, it was, and is, an atomic bomb.
Yeah, yeah…foreign competition, questionable labor contracts, clueless management, poor quality, crooked politicians, government regulations…blah, blah, blah. All these, and more, contributed to the decline.
Time to move on.
You probably won’t find a group of people who are bigger supporters of the area than our staff. It’s definitely a “glass is half full” attitude here related to this subject. But we’re realists, too. We’ve got time, effort and money invested in the business part of the equation, and our families, suppliers and their families all, to some degree, depend on our success. And, in my opinion, things have got to change if we expect the area to continue to sustain our business needs. Here’s my take…
First, it’s time to quit living in the past. Motown Records was great, but it’s not here anymore. Cars with huge fins had panache, but people don’t buy those today. Faygo, Strohs, Tiger Stadium and Bob-Lo were fantastic…but all are gone. So, enjoy the memories, have a few laughs, and then remember that it’s 2011.
Back in the present now? Excellent. We need to get to work.
How good are you at what you do? Anything less than great is not good enough.
If you had a serious medical, legal or IRS problem, and you could afford it, would you settle for the services of a “pretty good” surgeon, attorney or accountant, or would you go for the best you could possibly find? Right. Who wants mediocrity? Simply put, if you’re the best, there’s a market.
Yet somehow over the years, Detroiters have allowed themselves to collectively become also-rans: average products, mediocre service and a “go with the flow” attitude. Do enough to get by. Don’t make waves. (And some are still sitting around waiting for the windmills to come).
Who wants to buy that? Fewer than we thought.
The problem is, we’re way better than that. We do have numerous superstars amongst us, as well as top-notch educational, professional and research facilities and systems at our immediate disposal. We need to look at ourselves, our places of employment, the people we work with, those we mentor, and then collectively raise the bar. Insist on striving for the best. Never accept mediocrity.
We may never again be the center of an auto industry universe, but so what? If we continually outperform others, other universes will come to us.
Happy New Year.
Dee Allen 01/05/2011
Bob, as always I agree and disagree. As for the demand for excellence, I couldn’t agree more. As for the excellent institutions, I agree and include more than UM, hospitals, and DIA. As for the world automobile capital, I wouldn’t give up just yet. I am sitting in Shanghai at the moment, and the number of GM, Ford and Chrysler vehicle on the road is stunning. In addition, as the industry reinvents itself, the door is wide open for leadership once again. While Detroit will never be the manufacturing center it was, it has an excellent opportunity to be the cerebral center. Perhaps the biggest gaps are in political leadership and that intangible known as a winning attitude. Like the Lions (1957 was a great year!), we need an “ownership” of leadership and a belief in our ability to win — whether we are ahead or behind at any particular moment.
Thanks for stimulating discussion and let’s all have a great 2011>
Bob E 01/06/2011
Dee: I realized after posting the blog that it could be perceived that I was somehow giving up on, or selling short, the auto industry. On the contrary. However, if we think of Detroit as ONLY an automotive town, as was done in the past, we’re going to overlook some tremendous opportunities from other industries, as well as underutilize our collective capabilities.
As always, appreciate the thoughtful response, and another point of view.
Perry Kartsonas 01/17/2011
Nice article. Michigan and metro areas need to get back to what they do best…what that best is? is what state/city/neighborhood morphs into…but that is the key. By the 1970’s we became so entrenched that things spun off and moved on and we didn’t. It took 30 plus years to finally realize it,there was no future plan. A book that was a number 1 best seller (2002) “Who Moved My Cheese?” ..”An A-Mazing Way to Deal With Change in Your Work and in Your Life” is something that could have been helpful for our area back then when things were changing and we were not.Since 2009, our cheese has been moved so many times that there is no going back. I agree, memories are good but we must move forward and quickly to catch up.