The fourth part in a series for communities to better understand how to attract and retain younger talent in their region.

Establish user-generated online calendar of things to do in the region and use the calendar on other content sites

The number one thing YPs wanted was a user-generated web site of things to do in the region. Finally, two different groups stepped up simultaneously to deliver a site, yet both having a unique niche. MyScoper.com and RoanokeNights.com both have been very successful in communicating things to do in the region. By having an open source site created by the community, more events are showcased and therefore enhancing the perception of things to do. Also, syndicating the site on other region-centric content sites has also assisted organizations in not having to dedicate a person to do it manually.

A wise old mentor of mine was sharing his experience with politics recently. He offered some pretty good observations and lessons. Are politicians leaders?

A professor once taught me LEADERSHIP is the process of influencing others. SELF-LEADERSHIP is the process of influencing oneself. You must have SELF-LEADERSHIP before LEADERSHIP. No doubt politicians have SELF-LEADERSHIP. If they did not, they would not be elected, but LEADERSHIP is another question.

It is an insightful list and this person has given me more. I will share at a later time.  We are wise to keep these lessons in mind when dealing with politicians.

1. Politicians should be required to spend as much time, energy and effort in their elected positions as they did in their campaign to get elected.

2. Politicians often refer to themselves as “elected leaders’, when in fact they are elected office holders. Whether or not they are leaders is as entirely different question.

3. Courses offered in leadership are useless if the “leader” is only interested in figuring out what the pole numbers are on an issue so they can follow the current trend. Someone needs to design a course called “followship”. Politicians who think of themselves as leaders when all they are interested in doing is bending to the current popular opinion is akin to having the bell cow follow the herd. You can’t lead from the back of the pack.

4. If the private sector would exercise more corporate responsibility, we could eliminate half of the  regulatory agencies.

5. When a political party wins control of both the legislative branch and the Presidency / governorship , they are doomed to fail because they know they can’t fulfill their campaign promises and they have no scapegoats to blame for their failures.

The Other 6 Days Ministry provides a wonderful daily email to help with workplace issues. This God-focused email takes 5 minutes to read and it provides sage insights and wisdom for every reader. Try it out.

Kudos to Aric Bopp and the New River Economic Alliance for this great video highlighting the NRV. It’s outstanding and a much watch.

This evening I am speaking to the annual Roanoke CPAs event for local college students.

I am planning to break it up into two sections – one for the job seeker and the other for companies. We must have these groups understand the needs of each other. It is clearly not happening as a whole.

We need students to focus on acquiring billable skills and not act off a sense of entitlement. These students must also think about where they want to work and what region and majors provide the most opportunity depending on what is more important – the job or the city?

Companies in the region – students can work and live anywhere so why your company and why this region? Will talk a little about my experience with a great company culture. Also, now is the time for employers to talk about retention, what are they doing now to keep them.

If you have any thoughts, then let me know @stuartmease