Mixing Business with Pleasure

Writing this week’s Elert on Valentine’s Day, my writing assignment of making the connection between love and business seemed logical, albeit potentially dangerous. For how long we have been warned to “never mix business with pleasure?” Forever—that’s how long. Its time honored, seldom regretted advice.

But then again, what about the similarities between fresh love and the passion it takes to successfully start-up a new enterprise and to keep it going strong for years, possibly generations. Last week, I participated in the Shamokin…a Reconvening and came away from this two-day event completely energized. What I witnessed was a love of community. Not necessarily romantic love, but a deep, abiding commitment to build on each other strengths, thrive thanks to open communications, build on the fun that coming together and staying together can only bring.

Let’s be honest, Shamokin has experienced the ‘down-lows.’ Much like most long-term relationships, this community has felt some bumps and bruises. What is happening in Shamokin is that people are recognizing and honoring what has past and deciding to move forward with an improved relationship with their hometown. They’re not looking to quit; they’re committed to progress, together they’re making renewal happen.

Here’s what I heard and experienced related to love of community during my time at the Re-Convening:

1. Learning from other successful communities. Just like successful couples learn from other successful couples, successful communities can do the same. There’s a learning curve when it comes to community revitalization, and the Shamokin folks are tapping into proven best practices from peer communities throughout our region.
2. Build on strengths and put them front-and-center. Odds are that couples who find success discover that they compliment each other with their individual strengths. Community revitalization, such as what’s happening in Shamokin, has a plan. For example, the architecture of the town is awe inspiring and for the most part intact. Therefore, this strength is the cornerstone to build upon. There’s a lot of work to do. Dividing this workload across many people will make it broad-based and rewarding. In turn, this multiplies community pride and even more investment.
3. Thrive on communication. One common trait with long-term successful relationships is communications. It’s easy to imagine a conversation at a 50th wedding anniversary going, “If we don’t know what each other is thinking, feeling, or wanting we can’t support each other.” It’s less important to always agree than it is to always communicate. Emphasizing the ‘common’ in community will lead conversations to strategies, solutions, and facing tough issues head-on, together.
4. Don’t forget to have fun. Beyond being an objective, fun must be foundational. When it comes to love and community prosperity passion alone will eventually wither. If folks aren’t having fun on their adventure together, it can only lead to a loss of interest and let downs. Ensuring that fun gets mixed makes the experience enjoyable, builds moxie, and the ability to preserve through the inevitable difficulties to succeed.

Well, there you have it, a connection between love, passion, and community revitalization. A day late, but Happy Valentine’s Day to you.

One more thing: Have you heard about the Greater Susquehanna Valley Young Professionals (GSVYP)/Leadership Susquehanna Valley Meet-up on Main Street scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, February 16th? The Meet-up runs from 5:00-7:00 pm, at the Bull Run Tap House on Market Street in Lewisburg. Added to the festivities will be an opportunity to update your ‘headshot’ thanks to the professionals at the Lewisburg Studios.

Please come on out to re-connect, network, and even brush up your appearance with a new photo of the most beautiful person in the world…you.

Pre-registration is still open at gsvcc.org.