There is this strangeness in my life that I can best sum up as fate. The fate revolves around two states, specifically people from two states, Ohio and Maine. Now, let it be known this value sketch isn't about fate or those people. It is about intentional branding and identity, for better or worse, and Maine's economy. Please note the thoughts swirling in my head are far beyond my own patience to write them (never mind it's a sunny Saturday wasting inside typin) thus I am gonna jam through this and just get it out. If you're expecting great writing then you should know I am not a great writer. :)
The people fate- for whatever reason and without intention I end up in relations with people from Ohio and Maine. Even if they live in some other place there is some relationship to those states. It is strange, reoccuring and persistent. These meetings are not by my design. Now it is important to note that I have family in Maine (as some of you know)
So to the point of my sketch. I was thinking about Maine and economic development. I was thinking about branding and how my son calls Maine "Vacationland" (it's on the license plates dummy). He never calls Maine, "Maine." The highway introduction to Maine states, "Welcome to Vacationland, The way life should be." So conceptually Maine is all about vacation right? Well sort of. True most Americans think of Maine in terms of coastlines and light houses. Anyway Maine is a big state and much more than coastline. Ditto much more than Vacationland as well!
So the question is how to mix big innovation business with vacationlandage? A service based hospitality economy is one thing but a business innovation economy is much more A THING (imo). What would happen if Maine decided to be the innovation Vacationland of business? What if they crafted incentives around the concept of an innovation vacation. What if there were islands dedicated to innovation incubation and acceleration? Imagine transforming former Naval sites into Innovation spas! Imagine BIF style collaboration events in some of the most beautiful, relaxing, reflective places in the US! Imagine if Vacation was a concept applied to business. A place where people, business people, went to get rejuvenated and ignited. Imagine innoSpa's that could be redesigned to specific functionality (say one week hosting Microsoft leadership and the following two weeks hosting Safeway foods in store innovation team). The state could have a powerful economic booster based on an already existing, well branded message. It could be Vacationland for leisure and business.
Wooo, done! No rereads, no editing.
The people fate- for whatever reason and without intention I end up in relations with people from Ohio and Maine. Even if they live in some other place there is some relationship to those states. It is strange, reoccuring and persistent. These meetings are not by my design. Now it is important to note that I have family in Maine (as some of you know)
So to the point of my sketch. I was thinking about Maine and economic development. I was thinking about branding and how my son calls Maine "Vacationland" (it's on the license plates dummy). He never calls Maine, "Maine." The highway introduction to Maine states, "Welcome to Vacationland, The way life should be." So conceptually Maine is all about vacation right? Well sort of. True most Americans think of Maine in terms of coastlines and light houses. Anyway Maine is a big state and much more than coastline. Ditto much more than Vacationland as well!
So the question is how to mix big innovation business with vacationlandage? A service based hospitality economy is one thing but a business innovation economy is much more A THING (imo). What would happen if Maine decided to be the innovation Vacationland of business? What if they crafted incentives around the concept of an innovation vacation. What if there were islands dedicated to innovation incubation and acceleration? Imagine transforming former Naval sites into Innovation spas! Imagine BIF style collaboration events in some of the most beautiful, relaxing, reflective places in the US! Imagine if Vacation was a concept applied to business. A place where people, business people, went to get rejuvenated and ignited. Imagine innoSpa's that could be redesigned to specific functionality (say one week hosting Microsoft leadership and the following two weeks hosting Safeway foods in store innovation team). The state could have a powerful economic booster based on an already existing, well branded message. It could be Vacationland for leisure and business.
Wooo, done! No rereads, no editing.
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