The Lansing Mood

Mood as defined by the dictionary is a “state of mind” or we can also think of it as “an orientation to the world”.  Is it a place of abundance, possibility, collaboration, basic goodness?  Answers will most likely shape our mood.

After attending Launched last Thursday in East Lansing and then sprinting from one meeting to the next around the lower part of Michigan through Saturday afternoon, I can honestly say that Lansing seems to be preferable.  We’re humble but proud (not too self congratulatory but confident enough to say “Stuff is happening here!”).  We’ve got a lot of stuff going on!!! (For those of you who know me, stuff is a polite replacement for the more harsh yet more exciting word I’d rather use.)

At Launched it began with T.J. Duckett speaking and being his authentic, extremely likable self.  He made it clear he was up to stuff in Lansing.  Then Bobby Bringi from MBI brought his gentle, intelligent and successful self to light and made it clear, once again that stuff is happening here too.  Followed closely on his heels was Brittney Hoszkiw from Lansing’s Old Town and, my goodness, she made me want to march right over there and check out the stuff happening there!  And Chris Holman was quite humorous and delivered a powerful message … not only is stuff happening now in the Greater Lansing region but it’s going to continue to happen!  Business owners are now more confident than in a long while that their ventures will grow and be able to flex with the markets they are part of (is that a dangling participle?).

My point is, the mood is great here.  It jazzes me up (and I suspect everyone) knowing stuff is happening.  There is one thing that is clear, when we are in a bad mood, making good stuff happen is hard, sometimes impossible.  If you find yourself in a bad (or ineffective) mood: go for a walk, talk to someone who’s in a good mood and ask them why, just listen, don’t spread your bad mood.  Let’s share that good mood with everyone for 2011.

A call to action …. pick someone in your network of help.  Now send them a note, email or call them.  Tell them how appreciative you are of the stuff they are up to.  Stir the good mood and multiply it.  That’s how more stuff will happen.

Go make it happen!

Cheers — Miche

PS … don’t be angry I left out the part about the Innovator of the year awards … I left early, my feet were killing me and I had another 14 hour day coming the next day!!  (just being real )