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When Gatekeepers Confuse Authority With Competence
When Gatekeepers Confuse Authority With Competence Every community has gatekeepers. They may control funding, introductions, information, jobs, access to government, media attention, or entry into important networks. Some hold formal titles. Others influence because they have been around for years and know the right people. Gatekeepers are not always harmful. Healthy systems need people who…
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From Small-City Cliques to Institutional Tribalism
From Small-City Cliques to Institutional Tribalism At first glance, Tucson’s startup ecosystem and the global response to COVID-19 seem to have little in common. One involves founders, universities, investors, mentors, and community groups in a mid-sized city. The other involved governments, public-health agencies, scientists, media companies, technology platforms, pharmaceutical companies, and billions of people. The…
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BIG DANGERS of Institutional Tribal Behavior Exposed by COVID-19
Big Dangers of Institutional Tribal Behavior Exposed by COVID-19 WHO THE FLIP DO YOU THINK YOU WERE? The most disturbing lesson of the COVID-19 pandemic may not be that government officials made mistakes. Mistakes were inevitable. A new virus was spreading, hospitals feared collapse, data were incomplete, and leaders had to act before every fact…
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Tired of Talking… Time to Do and Show.
Tired of Talking… Time to Do and Show. One person can change a neighborhood. One entrepreneur can change an ecosystem. Recently, I watched a story about a Tucson resident who grew tired of hearing people talk about solving the city’s water problems. Instead of waiting for someone else to act, he decided to build a…
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Small City Cliques Suck the Life Out of You
Small City Cliques Suck the Life Out of You Tucson is Not Immune Let’s get something straight. Tucson, Arizona, “Optics Valley,” is not an unfriendly place. People are approachable, conversations start easily, and there’s a genuine sense that people want to help. On the surface, it feels open. But if you’re a founder, an innovator,…
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No Risk… No Gain… Just More of the Same…
No Risk… No Gain… Just More of the Same… “No Risk, No Gain, No Story.” It’s a simple line, but it exposes a hard truth about entrepreneurs, innovators, and the ecosystem we’re trying to build. Because let’s be honest… a lot of what we call “progress” is just playing it safe and funding the same…
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Tribal Leadership and Community Leadership – Part 2
Tribal Leadership and Community Leadership Part 2 – The Ugly Side Tribal leadership and community leadership, as explained by the exceptional book Tribal Leadership, written by Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King, has become a well-regarded guide for improving organizational culture. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061251321/ I highly recommend it.) Its core idea is simple yet profound: every…
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Tribal Leadership and Community Leadership – Part 1
Tribal Leadership and Community Leadership The Good and the Bad Tribal leadership and community leadership, as explained by the exceptional book Tribal Leadership, written by Dave Logan, Halee Fischer-Wright, and John King, has become a well-regarded guide for improving organizational culture. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061251321/ I highly recommend it.) Its core idea is simple yet profound: every organization…
