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a city changes, compay cultural turnaround, Cultural change, G-20 Summit, Pittsburgh and the G-20, Pittsburgh's turnaround, starting over, starting over now
The G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh gave the world a birds eye view of a cultural turnaround. I took in the G-20 from the suburbs of Pittsburgh while my daughter who is a student in the city had a far different perspective. The contrasting vantage points still aimed at the same destination as the world took note of what innovation, values and planning can accomplish.
I enjoyed watching our city, which we know to have morphed through a complete turnaround from the 1970s, be recognized nationally for its beauty, diversification, and new techno-image. I smiled reading that Michelle Obama had breakfast at Pamela’s. I was proud to hear Katie Couric feature Pittsburgh on the CBS evening news as a city that has rebounded from the decline of the steel era in a model other cities can emulate. Finally, I think we have globally traded in the label of the Smoky City that we’ve worn like an overcoat for the last hundred years for that of cutting edge innovation, arts, and industry enveloped with rivers and topography that wrap it up in a blooming bow.
The last day of the summit my oldest daughter Maria asked me if I wanted to meet her after work. I was wise enough to know that my company was not the draw in this meet-up and that I better bring along my wallet.
“I really need a new pair of jeans,” she added.
We decided to go to Shadyside, a city neighborhood I have frequented since I was a child. It had a completely different feel that afternoon from the days we used to skip class at Sacred Heart High School and eat pizza in a back booth at Papa Joes on Walnut Street. While many of the protesters had been respectful about having their messages heard, obviously many had not. Shadyside, though miles from downtown Pittsburgh, wore the battle scars of two previous days of protests around the G-20. The Gap, Victoria’s Secret and the Apple store still had their doors and windows boarded up as security guards stood watch out front. Some merchants that may not have been able to afford to board their windows posted computer made signs that read, “Independently Owned and Operated” which I guess were meant to deter protesters from assault. Yes, save your stones and bricks for the big retail giants, after all they more deserve to bare the results of violence so that people will hear how worthwhile your “cause” is.
I was even more shocked when Maria told me that Craig Street, a two block niche retail district a few blocks away in Oakland, had much damage and many broken storefront windows. She had traversed through the G-20 activity in person over the last two days for school and for work and said that many students had been afraid to frequent the area.
“I don’t understand it, Mom,” she said. “Destroying things doesn’t bring positive attention to a positive cause.”
In this scenario is a lesson on cultural turnaround. Pittsburgh, after the decline of the 1970s, quietly and strategically worked on rehabilitating its workforce and drawing on the talent of its diverse university graduates to engage a new energy and focus for the city. The G-20 shed a spotlight on that turnaround. Protesters came to have their desired turnaround messages (many of them worthwhile) highlighted, hoping to draw some of the limelight to their purpose. A few of them got noticed in the shadows. I hope they take with them the realization of what Pittsburgh taught the world this week – that change occurs with planning and execution. It comes at the hands of people driven by a mission with a positive purpose who work on a plan of sustainability. Passion misguided can be dangerous. Passion channeled with strategy and purpose is what turns heads, companies and cities around.
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Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert who went from being a stay-at-home mother with four children and a successful husband living a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, homelessness, and welfare. As a national guest speaker she demonstrates turn-around strategies that transform corporate cultures and took her from an earning capacity of $27,000 to the president and CEO of a hospital foundation. Her book “Starting Over – 25 Rules When You’ve Bottomed Out” offer hands-on strategies to reroute your path. Visit her Web site for a free e-book at http://www.StartingOverNow.com. Sign up for her free e-newsletter at info@startingovernow.com.