Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue II, 2012 | Page 77

or two or three of those types of projects going now? That is precisely the type of conversation I want my politicians and business leaders to have in the next 10, 20, 30 years. Let’s pick a couple of industries we want to “own” and build the incentives and the infrastructure to make it happen. Let’s figure out how the biotech corridor in Massachusetts was created, or the vibrant Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, or the technological expertise in and around Silicon Valley. Southern California used to own the entertainment industry, and the Pacific Northwest owned aerospace. What happened? Let’s lure back some of the workers, technology, and ancillary expertise we ceded overseas in the outsourcing mania of the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond. Does it mean we may have to pay a little higher price for some goods? Perhaps, at least initially, but strategically and economically (and morally) it’s the right thing to do. Where’s the vision and leadership to accomplish something this grand? There are so many things we could tackle (the smart grid, renewable energy, cloud computing security, etc.) to strengthen industries that would facilitate high-paying, highly skilled jobs and all sorts of ancillary businesses to support them. The best athletes, musicians, speakers, and entertainers visualize perfect performances and positive outcomes. Why can’t we collectively identify and start working toward something positive? Yes, things seem overwhelmingly negative and exceedingly frustrating right now. That’s obvious from the headlines, the market volatility, and the people “occupying” public places everywhere. But with a modicum of vision, courage, and heart we could muddle through this fog into a brighter tomorrow. The only online resource exclusively for Multi-Unit Franchisees and Area Developers. MUFranchisee.com Strengthen your system and grow your brands. Carol M. Schleif, CFA, is a partner and investment principal of Lowry Hill, a Wells Fargo business. Lowry Hill is a private asset management firm that provides proprietary investment management and financial services to families, individuals, and foundations with wealth greater than $10 million. The firm manages approximately $4.7 billion in assets for nearly 300 families and 56 foundations from offices in Minneapolis, Naples, Fla., and Scottsdale, Ariz. Schleif (formerly Clark) welcomes questions and comments at [email protected]. Optimized Content Interactive Tools ■ Franchise opportunities exclusively for ■ Article Discussions Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s u e II, multi-unit franchisees 2012 ■ Business Opportunities and Resources  75