System Reset

I like technical lingo, it's a shorthand way of talking among peers. A system reset happens when you disconnect power to a product, then restart it. Sometimes called a 'power-down reset'. I learned about those as an electronic technician in the Navy. We also used a technique we referred to as 'percussive tuning' wherein we beat on the circuit boards with our fist to get it running. But I digress...

I read this article by William Mathies in a magazine called TWICE (This Week In Consumer Electronics) and saw that the 'system reset' metaphor is particularly applicable to the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio.

The history being described shows that healthy industries remake themselves periodically in response to technical advances. Most of the previously dominant players in a market are obliterated as they try to protect their business model. I think this story can be a metaphor to partially describe the decline of our cities.

Many metropolitan areas including Cleveland are being obliterated as they desperately try hold on to old business models, old policies, or old ways of doing business. Other cities or regions invest in infrastructure, encourage new businesses, cater to employers large and small, appease the obstructionists and NIMBYs, and voila! Here come the jobs!

Companies establish their headquarters in a more friendly business environment. Entrepreneurs come because they see a way to participate in a critical mass of ideas, management talent and HR assets. Investors follow the entrepreneurs (or is that vice versa?). Immigrants come with their dreams and ideas to start a company where none existed and hire people to fill positions that were created from an idea. Large companies spin off small companies who become medium size companies. This is the success story of Silicon Valley (Fairchild Semiconductor), San Diego (Qualcomm), Orange County, CA, Boston, Research Triangle Park, Seattle and Minneapolis.

Yes, it's good that the city is removing unsightly buildings and bombed-out vacant homes. I wish they would resurface the eastern end of Superior Ave where the poor people live just like they did the downtown section where the politicians go. I think it's great that the Cleveland Clinic is encouraging the growth of medical device companies. It's great that Case is being recognized as a mecca for materials science. It's great that BioEnterprise is bringing new brainpower to Cleveland. It's wonderful that COSE is supporting the small business enterprise in cooperation with KeyBank and Corporate College.

I am hopeful that the politicians can put aside their perpetual reelection efforts of pandering to the obstructionists and instead focus on what the city really needs: new companies that create jobs, generate paychecks and rebuild the service sector that generates more jobs. I don't think a law against texting while driving was the highest and best use of Council's time. No new jobs were created, no one will be arrested until they actually cause an accident. What a waste of Council's time.

Focus on bringing jobs to Cleveland.