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A Bird's Eye View of Pittsburgh's Turnaround
The G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh gave the world a birds eye view of a
cultural turnaround. I took in the G-20 events that brought together the
world's leaders 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, 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 steel industry in 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 study of medicine, technology and medical engineering
flourished because planners here made it attractive to do so. The G-20
shed a spotlight on that turnaround. Protesters came to the Summit 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 has taught the world – 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. Start now!
Follow Mary Lee on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Worksheets: “Change – Here’s How!” and “Overcoming
Adversity is an Every Day Slice of Life?” go to Mary Lee's web site at:
http://www.startingovernow.com/WorksheetsandArticles.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert and
coach 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 on "Life
Balance." Sign up for her free e-newsletter at info@startingovernow.
com.
The G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh gave the world a birds eye view of a
cultural turnaround. I took in the G-20 events that brought together the
world's leaders 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, 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 steel industry in 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 study of medicine, technology and medical engineering
flourished because planners here made it attractive to do so. The G-20
shed a spotlight on that turnaround. Protesters came to the Summit 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 has taught the world – 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. Start now!
Follow Mary Lee on Twitter at StartingOverNow.
For the FREE Worksheets: “Change – Here’s How!” and “Overcoming
Adversity is an Every Day Slice of Life?” go to Mary Lee's web site at:
http://www.startingovernow.com/WorksheetsandArticles.html
Mary Lee Gannon is a cultural turnaround and leadership expert and
coach 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 on "Life
Balance." Sign up for her free e-newsletter at info@startingovernow.
com.
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* Empty nesters
* Entrepreneurs
* Networking
* Job Seekers
* Starting all over
again
* Going through a
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* Looking for career
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Turnaround Solutions for People & Organizations
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone email info@startingovernow.com.
Whether you are an executive who is "stuck," your company needs
better productivity, or you are in a life transition you represent the
people and organizations Executive Leadership Coach Mary Lee has
helped. Learn how to clarify direction, create strategy, upgrade skills,
optimize your environment and wipe out fear and doubt. Make it fun =
get more done!
Mary Lee’s strategies from her book “Starting Over” helped her in her
own transformation from stay-at-home mother with four children living
a country club life to the reality of a difficult marriage, divorce, poverty,
welfare and then on to president and CEO. Eliminate self doubt, under-
performance, money fears, relationships woes, and negative influence
so that you may soar. Then lead others to improve their lives and your
business. Start now! For a FREE introductory coaching session via
phone email info@startingovernow.com.
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FREE Resources
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
to help you:
1. United States of America's
primary source on career
information:
www.onetcenter.org
2. Wage Estimates
www.salary.com and Bureau of
Labor and Statistics
3. Organize Your Job Search -
Post a Question etc.:
www.cvtips.com
4. Starting Over After Divorce:
www.womansdivorce.com
5. Starting Over for Women:
www.makingbreadmagazine.co
m
6. Self Improvement:
www.selfgrowth.com.
7. Job Postings, Resume
Advice and Resources:
www.careerbuiler.com
8. Templates for: business
plans, competitive analysis,
start up costs and more:
www.score.org/business_toolbox
.html
9. Federal/Sate/Local
Government jobs:
www.USAJOBS.com
10. U.S. Government's Free
online courses, webinars and
podcasts for workforce
development:
www.onetacademy.com.
11. Occupational Outlook
Handbok 2008-09 by Bureau of
Labor and Statistics:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.ht
m
| Mary Lee Gannon is interviewed on Mind Your BIZness |
Listen to Mary
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Lee's interview
"From Welfare
to CEO" on the
Renee Bobb
Show on
BlogTalk
Radio.com.
Gannon Group/StartingOverNow.com
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
Executive Leadership Coaching - Productivity Solutions for People and Organizations
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Mary Lee Gannon's
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available in bookstores
everywhere or at
Amazon.com - 5 Stars!
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