The South Dakota Adventure - from Agrarian to Knowledge Economy in a Single Bound
Dear futuristas, I have certainly been delinquent recently. As we prepare for the launch of Future Inc., there sure has been a lot of travel in recent months and massive, near-toxic volumes of coffee consumed. But that's not an excuse not to keep everyone up to date!
I have been having fun in my crusade to bring the techniques of professional futurists to everyone. One of my favorite recent stops has been to the great state of South Dakota for their recent Innovation Expo. The event was produced by a group called the South Dakota Enterprise Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding the state's economy one idea, one entrepreneur at a time. I knew it was going to be interesting, but I really didn't realize how much fun it was going to be.
First off, consider the mission of the people at the Enterprise Institute. They are looking at the future of their state, and realize that their greatest export isn't ethanol or beef or sugar beets -- it's bright, entrepreneurial young minds. They are shipping those young minds to Minneapolis and Chicago, New York City and St. Louis. Nothing wrong with those places, but somebody has to step up and lead the economies in the middle of the country.
What's so refreshing about South Dakota's approach is that they eschew the idea that the way to save the state is to import giant corporations, give them massive tax cuts, and hope that the trickle-down improves people's fortunes. Instead, they see the people of South Dakota as the greatest resource -- one small business at a time.
Now, here's the surprising part: the small businesses they are growing aren't just dry cleaners and gift shops -- no way. How about artificial cornea for macular degeneration patients. Electronic medical records for urgent medical care. Software to assist eldercare facilities. Not to mention the state's pioneering work in ethanol and wind energy. They want to be the "Saudi Arabia of Wind Power." So the people in South Dakota aren't just planning a bake sale to scrape up funds for the 21st Century.
This is a fascinating mission. As one of the state's legislators said to me, "We're not in the same fix as Michigan. They've got to tear down their industrial economy. We're going straight from an agrarian economy to the knowledge economy."
Overall, what's so great about the progress in South Dakota is the positive energy of the place. You know, the place is flat, it's cold, and it's quite removed from the economic concentration of the coasts. But when you combine their optimism, industriousness, and interest in 21st Century management techniques, the future is quite bright in the Dakotas.
That, and the steak there is UNBELIEVABLY GOOD. I'm going back!
-Garland
Competitive Futures Blog