A few weeks ago I started a post titled, A List of Local Businesses I Can’t Stand.

Oh, I was annoyed.

Nothing in particular sparked this attitude. Business has been great. I had a super birthday party at our shop. I also recently crossed a personal milestone of 715 miles on my bike this year, too!

So what gives? Why the ”F— it, I’m sick of this” ‘tude? Why was it bleeding over into an inventory of petty annoyances and full-of-sh*t people?

If you own your own business you’re nodding right there along with me. There are just times when you’re exhausted:

You’re sick of being cheery.
You’re sick of dealing with people who want you to solve their problems.
You’re sick of of your own problems!
You’re sick of the time and money required to get things done to your satisfaction.
And dangit, you’re just bone tired.

Being sick of your business is a common malady. Yet no one talks about it.

(If someone says this never happens to them they are lying liars.) 

My friend, this is when you know it’s time for a “reframe,” and here’s you get over it…

Now before we get to all of that let me say this. I don’t dislike any businesses in town. I want everyone to succeed because it helps me succeed. I believe most people are rooting for your success. But I admit there are some people I don’t care for and/or actively dislike. It happens.

Now, back to fixing that sour attitude.

1. Evaluate where you are strained. Quit that.

If you’re feeling burned out — you know, tired when you wake up and cranky all day — chances are that you’re spread too thin. You’ve taken on too much. Evaluate what can be eliminated to reduce your stress and still meet your goals. I find this “whole earth to street light” approach helpful:

What are my main objectives and goals in business and life right now? e.g. Can I summarize in one sentence the big picture for the next month?

What am I doing on a consistent basis to reach these goals? (Be specific.)

Who or what is getting in the way? Why? 

What am I doing on regular basis that is blocking my momentum? e.g., granular, specific actions or habits

How can I eliminate that?

Wondering why this blog has been quiet lately? I looked at this recently and realized that I could let go of this blog. At least on a regular basis, and probably not until we move back to winter hours. No hard feelings, ya’ll.

Sometimes asking yourself these questions can drudge up a lot more. Sometimes it’s not so simple to “quit.” Truly, sometimes it takes bravery or uncomfortable conversations or even more to let go of people, places, or previous work. But you’ve got to be willing to quit the things that aren’t working if you’re serious about succeeding. Remind yourself that the greatest success comes from being willing to fail. I think it also comes from being willing to quit.

Quit what’s not working and causing you stress.

2. Remind yourself why you’re doing this.

You are more than your business and its widgets.

How does your business (or other efforts) contribute positively to others? If you struggle to answer this question ask yourself the inverse: what social problem(s) do I see and how can my business help in some small way? It’s helpful to look outside of your immediate circle because of course you are working hard to support your family or yourself. Shifting your gaze outward will help you broaden your focus and refresh your enthusiasm.

I found inspiration reading the book, “The Small-Mart Revolution” by Michael Shuman. It addresses how independent businesses can survive and thrive, and why that’s important for society. (This ends the “Reading Rainbow” section of this post!…)

 3. Take care of yourself.

Take the time to take care of yourself. Your body and mind need care. You can’t operate at your greatest capacity if you’re tired, angry, or overwhelmed. Take a break. It will give you better perspective to start again.

Let me know how you deal with overwhelm — I’d like to hear.

Lastly, here’s a narrated video of Beaufort, SC’s Micropolitan Manifesto:

Oh, and the next post is tentatively titled, Kids: Drop Out of School.

Five years ago last week we left New York City and moved to our new home in Staunton, Virginia (pop. 22,000!). Damn! It seems like a lifetime.

Almost immediately we started developing our business. We opened George Bowers Grocery in November that year. The journey has been transformative. It’s been incredibly hard and painful at times. But, I can also say that it continues to challenge us in many ways—most of them for the better. I’m proud of what we’ve built and I’m grateful for all the people who continue to help make it possible.

Here are the top five lessons I learned the hard way. Maybe you can avoid my mistakes.

WARNING: Some of these are nearly impossible to avoid.

1. Trust, But Verify
Our biggest mistake was one of exuberance and excitement. ROOKIE MISTAKE! We entered a business partnership with total strangers. We did a minimal amount of background checks. Short story: the people involved at the start made it a shit-ton-of-this-should-never-have-happened. (Have a glimpse here.)

But it did, and we’re literally still paying for this mistake.

2. Assume Your Business Plan is Flawed. Also Assume You are Underfunded (It Is/You Are*)
(*Especially if anything is vetted by current/former crack smokers.)

No business plan remains static once it debuts. You must be able to pivot and move with the market. That’s why we sell craft beer, not broccoli. That’s why we dismantled key business plan assumptions and built new capacities. You must learn to be frugal and bootstrap. You’ll need to bring everything you’ve got.

You must be willing to be wrong.

3. Find Mentors, But Don’t Blindly Listen to “Experts”
So-called “experts” to avoid include:

• People who know everything about everything (Aren’t they insufferable pricks?!)
• People who just learned X existed but suddenly are experts in X (and want to advise you)
• People who think a fancy degree (or similar — really, fill in the blank) confers greater amounts of smarts, people skills, creativity, grit, or boots-on-the-ground experience, etc., necessary to succeed. (NOTE: This is where many urban escapees falter. They mistake outside experience/perspective for superiority. They are not humble; they are not open to learning or exploring. This makes them terrible leaders. Moreover, this attitude is the root cause of strife between the “been heres” and the “come heres” in any small market. If you’re running a business—especially a public-facing one!—you need the support of the “been heres.” Small town rules apply in any market.)
• People who are consistently negative— dude, AVOID THESE LOSERS. There are a million reasons “why not” and losers love to count them.

Experts you actually need—a.k.a. mentors—include:

• People willing to tell you the hard truth, even when it hurts like hell (e.g. “Your business is failing.”)
• People who will protect your interests: legally, emotionally, etc.
• People who offer insight gained from doing and succeeding (Find someone doing what you’re doing; your circumstances are not so unique)
• People who periodically reset your perspective. Here are two key areas: time horizon and the larger contribution your efforts bring (WHY are you doing what you do?! Are you committed to that, e.g., IN IT TO WIN IT?)
• People who won’t rescue you, but let you fail. Failing is the only way sharpen your senses. Do it a lot, and get back up.

4. Learn to Expect Extreme Highs and Lows
Highs and lows are par for the course… recent examples: the same week we learned a family member has inoperable cancer was the week our business was in The New York Times.

Expect stress. With lows come inevitable highs. Navigate the process by expecting this and learning to deal with the ups and downs in productive ways.

5. People Will Disappoint You—But People Will Also Amaze You.
Accept that people will disappoint you. We’re all flawed. We’re all on our own developmental paths, and most of us are doing the best we (think) we can. The people you dismiss today might be the very people you really respect tomorrow, and vice-versa. Choose the company you keep carefully.

People will amaze you — you need to accept that, too. Watch for overt generosity and kindness. Not because you always deserve it but because, on balance, people are good. (Even the crack smokers.)

Now, get back to business!

Photo: revger (Gerry Brague)

P.S. Mileage: 444/1,000. Time to get serious.

This place has a “Mustard Museum” (!) — that’s what I’m talking about.

Once upon a time locally-owned, independent businesses were the heart of our communities. Every day, millions of people exchanged products and services that contributed to flourishing local downtown economies that enriched our collective sense of self and place. One day, the highways, malls, suburbs, and internet retailers arrived — destroying much of what made our communities one-of-a-kind. Because of that, the people in our neighborhoods and downtowns suffered: socially, economically, and environmentally. Because of that, a new generation sought to rebuild what has been lost. Until finally, we’ve revitalized, reinvented, and reimagined what is now possible in our micropolitans.

That’s the story of our neighborhoods and downtowns over the previous (and next!) 60+ years.

click to tweet!

I learned about the six sentence “Pixar pitch” reading Dan Pink’s latest book, “To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others.” I highly recommend it.

Pink says selling has changed more in the last 10 years than in the last 100, and I agree. Here’s why.

In it he discusses that we’ve left the era of ‘caveat emptor’—buyer beware—to what he calls the era of ‘caveat venditor’—seller beware. That’s because technology allows ALL of us to sell and ALL of us to research our purchases. Sellers no longer hold all the information and the power. Now everyone is empowered — and that influences how you sell.

Frankly, that’s great news because it infuses all transactions with more transparency and truthfulness.

Here are key takeaways you will find helpful:

1. We’re All In Sales Now
Technology hasn’t eliminated selling — it’s allowing more selling. More of us depend on moving products and/or services than ever before. Notably, this includes “selling” experiences, ideas, activities. This is applicable to all us interested in small city & neighborhood revitalization because you’re selling a vision of what’s possible where you live. Learning to sell isn’t just a skill if you own an indie business, run an organization, or are advocating for community changes.

HOW: To move product and service, you need to move people. That means connecting to them on a human level.

2. Attunement, Buoyancy, and Clarity

The old ABCs of sales were “Always Be Closing.” The new ABCs, Pinks writes, are “Attunement, Buoyancy, and Clarity.” In summary:

Attunement: The ability to consider the other person’s perspective and needs–and then solve their problems.

Buoyancy: A life outlook and attitude that is not too negative, not too positive, but a Goldilocks-just-right. This allows you to bounce back from set-backs and realistically plan ahead with a plan that includes others.

Clarity: The process of refining your ability to crystalize problems down to their root cause — and helping others hold up a mirror and simplify the same way.

3. You Must Serve to Lead
I love this phrase! Whether you’re calling it the ‘sharing economy’ or the ‘You Economy’ or whatever, the common denominator is that selling depends on the seller connecting with, serving, and assisting others. The emphasis is on service.

HOW: Be genuine. Be transparent. Be ready to be Googled. Be ready to give without expectation of return.

(You can find more detailed summary of Pink’s book here.)

Speaking of books… Congratulations to Becky McCray on the first anniversary of the release of her book, “Small Town Rules.”

Until next time… keep doing what you’re doing — whether it’s building your business or contributing to your community some other way. Your efforts are key to the last part of our story above:

revitalizing,

remaking,

& reimagining

our places for the possible.

photo: windelbo

P.S. 430/1,000 miles

The Atlantic wrote a distressing story this week, Why Twenty-Somethings Aren’t Doomed to Be Poor (but Thirty-Somethings Might Be). It pointed out what we already know: our economic reality has fundamentally shifted. Those of us who are 30-somethings — especially those of us who followed the “American religion” of getting an education, buying a house, etc., — might be squeezed the tightest.

It’s a sobering read for a bootstrapping business owner like me, and maybe you, too. Money is frequently a front and center topic! So I’m happy to say:

People, please.  It ain’t all doom and gloom! Just think. Chances are good you’re living a higher standard of living than your great-great-grandparents, what, with indoor plumbing and all. (Everything is amazing and no one is happy!)

Here’s a short story about money that came back to me, and three tips to get money coming back to you.

Story About a Dollar Bill

At our cash register I pull aside two kinds of dollars: $2 bills and those marked “Where’s George?”.

For awhile I couldn’t figure out the flush of $2 bills that come into the shop in waves. Then I found out that Nick, the guy who owns our local ice cream shop Split Banana, distributes them as change. Marvelous! I love this! I love this because every time I find a $2 bill I am reminded how all of our efforts (customers and business owners alike) help keep money circulating in our community. I always make sure to spend these bills locally.

It took me longer to deduce the major player distributing the “Where’s George?” bills in town.

Anyone can stamp or write “Where’s George?” on a bill and then send it out into the world. When you find one you can enter it and see where its journey has taken it. You can also tag it so you’re notified next time someone finds it.

For my own amusement I like to write a brief notation about how a bill comes into our shop — conversations overheard when it was used to pay for item or what item was purchased, or whatnot. (Hey, it’s fun.) So, I was thrilled when one came into the shop in November when we were celebrating 4 years in business. And further, I was encouraged that the bill originated in Staunton.

Then the money came back!

I was notified it was found in the system again, and further, it was located in Staunton. (See it here.) So this dollar has been moving through our community since November — fantastic!

(Finally figured out there is one person at Blue Mountain Coffee obsessed with sending out “Where’s George?” bills. But I haven’t figured out who it is yet…)

Since we started George Bowers Grocery I’ve given a lot more thought to how vital it is to keep wealth — of all forms — in our communities. So how do you define wealth? Dollars in or out is not the whole picture and that’s easy to forget. That measurement is important, of course.

How you define wealth is important if you’re working hard to build an indie business. Wealth is also trading actual things, via a site like Freecycle, or trading service hours and strengthening community ties, via an hours exchange. Or maybe it’s spending time restoring your corner of nature. Whatever.

How to make money come back to you:

1. Distribute money freely and happily. Follow Nick’s lead and distribute a bunch of $2 bills in your community. It can be your business’s “thing” if no one else nearby is doing it. I think it works for Nick in part because Split Banana is a happy place to go and people want to share this feeling.

I also recommend tracking any “Where’s George?” bills that come your way. It’s a good reminder that money physically travels through our communities and has the capacity to do a lot of good if we use it wisely. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a bill I sent out.

2. Be grateful for all your other forms of wealth. Seriously. Every time you get worried about business cash flow take a few moments to inventory up all the other forms of wealth and stop your worrying. You can’t take this kind of wealth to the bank but you can take that inventory to heart and sometimes that matters more to stay focused. Remember: the work you’re doing in your community matters.

3. Give. Giving anything. I was recently inspired by this video about the “giving economy”. I’m a firm believer in “what goes around comes around” and that you always have the capacity to give more. I know that our business has been the recipient of a lot of generosity and kindness outside of USD-dollar money exchanged, and if you think about it I know you can think of examples in your life or business, too. Pay it forward.

Don’t underestimate what you’re capable of giving!

(Naturally if you want to follow #3 literally, our mailing address is: 219 W. Beverley Street, Staunton, VA 24401, ha!)

Until next time…. Keep spreading money and happiness in your community. Not because you think it will come back. Do it because you know that you have the capacity to give.

P.S. Mileage: 415/1,000

photo: Fun in NH

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Friday we hit a milestone: we were in the Small Business section of The New York Times!

As former New York City residents  – which the paper of record calls “Hipsturbians” — and as daily readers, we were pretty stoked.

Our business was featured in a section called “Money Shot,” which asked business owners to send in a photo that represents their business. Here’s the direct link to our photo profile.

So how did we beat out other submissions and get here?

It comes down to one primary tool, and you can build your own for the same purpose…

The tool is: a DIGITAL PRESS KIT.

The first thing you need to understand is that the media — whether you’re talking about a local blog or colossal media empire — needs content. Lots of content. “Feed the beast” is an expression for a reason.

Every business needs a digital press kit at the ready. It’s a tool that needs to be used regularly but I’m amazed by how few indie businesses know how. Moreover, when I’m on the other side I’m a little shocked by how unresponsive indie business owners are when contacted for a quote.

Most business owners overestimate the available time window and underestimate the value of getting a press mention.

This an important note because a press mention in a trusted media source can do wonders. A series of press mentions work to build your social proof and act as a differentiating advantage in your market. How many businesses in your micropolitan have been “discovered”?

This post is too short to go into our entire method but let me assure you that this quick overview of our digital press kit has been key to some of our biggest press wins (e.g., Salon.com, Forbes.com, AMEX OpenForum, American Public Radio, etc.).

Here are the ten basics you need to assemble and build your digital press kit:

The advantage to prepping this beforehand is that you can refine it. Also, by preparing it in advance you’ll be able to quickly respond to requests. NOTE: This is “living document” that you’ll update on a regular basis. Not all submissions will require all of these elements but gathering them in one place will make responding to media a snap. Speedy responsiveness is a huge advantage.

1. WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS AND WHO DOES IT SERVE? You need to be able to state this in ten words or less.

2. CONTACT INFO: Make it easy for people to research you and contact you. Have all your details ready in one place: website, phone, hours, address, etc.

3. WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS HISTORY AND PURPOSE? Have at least three versions: one sentence, 25 words, 50 words.

4. WHAT IS YOUR STORY? (DUDE. YOU MUST HAVE A STORY.) Context, context, context.  Have at least three versions: one sentence, 25 words, 50 words. Here’s the key: WIIFM? (What’s In It For Me? — “me” being the media outlet. You’ll want to tailor your response to their audience.)

5. WHY SHOULD I CARE?  This is probably the biggest section to refine. There are millions of businesses. What makes yours different? How does it contribute? Stay upbeat and positive. Media pros are deadline driven and know to avoid whiners because they take up too much time. Hint: don’t use the word “unique” and avoid all those generic buzzwords that mean nothing…!

6.  WHO ARE YOU? You’ll need at least three bios: one sentence, 25 words, 50 words. These bios explain your business role and your background. Depending on publication you’ll need to supply background info that is professional (e.g., “managed inventory sales of a large retailer”) or personal (e.g., “started her business after the birth of her first child.”) Prepare brief bios for both requests.

7. PHOTOS: Have a stack of them ready. You’ll primarily need web versions but high-resolution shots are necessary for print. At minimum you need shots of you and your shop. Product shots are secondary if you’re a retailer but the priority if you sell goods. Photos need to convey your overall mission and personality.

8. SUPPORTING DOCS: These are links to other publications. This bolsters your credibility. Keep links to them in one place.

9. REFERENCES/TESTIMONIALS: Who should the reporter contact to follow up on your claims? Those are your references. Ask these people in advance for permission for media to contact them. Who has already said awesome stuff about your business? Those are your testimonials.

10. STRIP FOR PARTS: If you write a paragraph for one submission about an aspect of your business, save it. You can reuse this in future opportunities. Organize it in your document for easy location.

Remember, you want to be ready with a cut-and-paste response. We got into the Times in a large part thanks to three things: one, we have a clearly defined business narrative; two, we had a collection of photos and copy ready to submit; and three, we responded quickly to the request. 

You can, too. A digital press kit won’t ensure you will get press opportunities but it will greatly improve your chances.

Questions? Drop a line or contact me.

P.S. MILEAGE: 392/1,000

A life without that *&^%( commute and cubicle is possible! Let me show you how I did it and you can, too. Sign up for the newsletter now. (FREE!)

Today is the day we learn what happens next.

Of course, you can say that about any arbitrary day. Daily decisions and habits form your life. So does random chance and patterns unseen. But in a cold hospital the point is made even clearer. Will you choose Decision A? How about Decision B?

What if both options are not so good?

Or just plain bad?

. . .

Someone wiser said to us a few years ago: “People do not realize how fragile many ‘Main Street’ businesses truly are.”

With characteristic bravado this a point easily overlooked. New businesses have a horrid success rate and many lose money. But of course you’re not going to run one of those, right? You are smart. You work hard. You are not intimidated by someone else’s pie chart. To hell with their balance sheet.

I am frequently amused, and occasionally enraged, when someone — usually a tourist — infers that running an independent business on Main Street isn’t all that difficult. This is usually followed by unsolicited, dumb ass ideas.

But, I am not surprised. Unless you have done it you have no idea. Does it look easy?

Thanks, that’s a compliment.

. . .

With time our business has become a lot stronger than ever before, and it is growing. This is a combination of: refining our business model, paying off opening expenses, getting some lucky breaks, asking for help, and a lot of extremely hard work. It doesn’t get easy but it gets easier. We have a kick ass summer planned.

However, there is no question there is more to do. There is no question that we could make more money with less effort in some other capacity.

More to do and easier paths to money? That’s the place where many people give up.

So why continue?

Why keep going during trying times? Here’s what I recommend you ask yourself:

1. What gives this journey personal meaning or significance to you? There’s more to life than business.

2. How are you positively contributing to the world around you? Is your business a vehicle?

3. Would you regret giving up?

Find the answers to these questions and building a business becomes a lot easier.

Sometimes success is measured in perseverance. Sometimes it is measured in survival.

Today we learn what happens next.

MILEAGE: 370/1,000

photo: Live Life Happy

Do you know what a ”kokedama” is? It’s a design element du jour that speaks of something bigger.

Kokedama is a Japanese bonzai technique that creates pot-less plants in moss-covered globes. These are strung up in groups to create seemingly magical, floating gardens, like this:

You can’t help but notice they are a mash-up of nature and human influence.

Kokedamas are beautiful — and part of a $200 billion bet that you and I are part of a distinct “lifestyle” brand loosely described as sophisticated, “back-to-the-landers-lite”. In fact, they are a design feature at Terrain, a garden-store-slash-locavore-restaurant in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Terrain is backed by corporate brand Urban Outfitters.

You know when the “big guys” get in on something it’s because they see potential.

As reported recently in The Wall Street Journal:

Can chicken feed, canning jars and garden hoses feel chic?

Absolutely, say retailers cashing in on the “modern homesteader” craze. As more urban and suburban homeowners take up backyard farming, items like chicken coops, beehives, gardening tools and pickling and canning supplies are getting more stylish and pricey.

[...]

Broadly defined, it is a consumer segment with an estimated $200 billion in retail sales, which also includes annual spending on organic-labeled food and environmentally-friendly household products, says Charlie Hall, horticultural economist at Texas A&M University in College Station. This consumer is typically a 30- or 40-something homeowner motivated largely by the desire to live more simply and healthily, he says.

These people “have a willingness and ability to pay,”… Source

Like the idea of “Hipsturbia,” this only tells part of the story — the story you and I are writing right now! They are missing a key point…

The key point: it’s not your father’s “Gentleman Farmer” world.

The assumption Urban Outfitters and Williams-Somona are taking (with the latter’s “Agrarian” line of high end accessories) is that urban escapees consist of two categories: people 50+ with the means to be hobbyist farmers (if they dabble in the actual work itself at all), and those who are younger and aspire to do so.

The big guys got the story right selling high-end apiary equipment as a purchasing statement. One can debate the statement itself but realize this:

Not all hobbyists want — or plan — to stay in “hobby mode.”

The part they miss is the groundswell of interest — particularly by younger people — to find the intersection of urban living perks with the freedom associated with your own piece of land or your own business. It follows that you are increasingly motivated to raise those bees beyond your own desires of self-sufficiency if:

• you could sell your honey to local retailers and restaurants
• in the process take control of your work life and express your creativity
• what you do makes you happy knowing you know you are contributing to larger revitalization & resiliency in the process

The big guys see this as passive consumer consumption — it is not. If anything, it is wonderful mainstream marketing of a larger idea. That idea:

You can make a difference and contribute to your local economy with greater impact as a business, not as a lifestyle-aspirational hobby.

My friend Meg, a cheesemonger, is a great example. She is not a hobbyist cheesemaker but a serious, independent (albeit micro-sized) business owner. From our conversations at our shop I believe she derives satisfaction in part because her business supports the work and artistry of other cheesemakers.  Meg and I are probably target customers for these efforts by Williams-Somona and Urban Outfitters… if we didn’t already have our own creative, micro-sized businesses keeping us busy.

What the “big guys” are missing is the small scale, independent business movement as it intersects with micropolitans. “Back to the land” might be better stated as “back to small scale city living.”

But what cities can survive without things to do and places to go? That’s where indie business comes in… and business is not as a lifestyle-aspirational hobby.

As the Terrain CEO concludes the WSJ piece,

The store provides workshops on things like terrarium gardening and Japanese “kokedama,” hanging plants that appear to float, free of containers, from the ceiling. “We’ll open more stores,” Mr. Hayne says. “We’re taking our time growing the concept and learning it.” [emphasis added]

The concepts they’re missing:

• It’s a more youthful demographic than 50+
• The indie biz trend is growing, not shrinking
• These “back-to-the-landers-lite” are finding & revitalizing micropolitans — “back-to-our-smallest-urban-places”

Instructions to make your own kokedamas here and here. Don’t save your money to shop at these big retailers. Use it to start your own business and make a difference.

P.S. MILEAGE TALLY: 345/1,000

photo: Anne Dockter / StringGardens.com

Writes Dave Reid, “The odd thing about Noda is that despite technically being in the city of Charlotte, NC it really is a rural small town, that has become a hipster neighborhood.”

The New York Times recently featured a story, “Creating Hipsturbia in the Suburbs“:

You no longer have to take the L train to experience this slice of cosmopolitan bohemia. Instead, you’ll find it along the Metro-North Railroad, roughly 25 miles north of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the suburb of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. [...]

As formerly boho environs of Brooklyn become unattainable due to creeping Manhattanization and seven-figure real estate prices, creative professionals of child-rearing age — the type of alt-culture-allegiant urbanites who once considered themselves too cool to ever leave the city — are starting to ponder the unthinkable: a move to the suburbs.

But only if they can bring a piece of the borough with them.

“Welcome,” announced The Times, “to hipsturbia.”

 They score points for observation.

Too bad they got the story wrong…

First mistake: the article looks at a “conventional” group of 30-somethings (married+children). Obviously that makes sense for a short article but that’s not the entire picture, either. People 30-45 represent the largest demographic moving “out of the city” according to the research I’ve done for my forthcoming book. They aren’t all married or planning to have children. Plenty are single, too. The one thing this overall group tends to have in common?

“They are very entrepreneurial and start/buy businesses at rates higher than the resident population. Many are also part of the 1099 economy doing contract work,”

says Ben Winchester, a researcher studying rural Wisconsin, when I contacted him. That sounds like my experience, and those of many of my peers.

I am reminded of Chris’s response, listed first, when I asked, “What trend or change is breathing new life into downtowns?”

Her response was one of connection: people do not want to move to “the suburbs” as our generations’ parents might have thought ideal. We want social interconnection and have the desire to make a contribution. For many “urban escapees” that contribution and creative expression is found starting and growing (or reviving) an indie business.

Why? Well, not only for the personal challenge and enrichment. The educated, motivated people I call “urban escapees” know that viable places and strong local economies cannot happen without their active participation. When they start or support the artisanal businesses portrayed in the NYT article they are voting to revitalize these pockets of (mostly overlooked) urbanism (“micropolitans”).

My observation is that a lot of the “escapees” leaving the big cities are environmentally conscious, too. They understand that revitalizing our walkable/bikeable “traditional” urbanism makes a difference at both the personal and global level.

This brings me to the second, larger mistake.

Second mistake: calling it “Hipsturbia” — a mash-up of the word “suburb”. It implies mimicry of the city replanted in the suburbs. This movement is something else. It’s bigger than that. It’s not the suburbs anyone wants.

The underlying, flat out wrong, assumption that there are three broad lifestyle choices: big city, suburban, or rural. That’s straight up constrictive and outdated. My point with this site is to shine a light on interesting “rural” places, if you want to call them that and if you accept the one-size-does-not-fit-all definition of “rural” as any place with fewer than 100,000 people. Rather, I believe the pockets of urbanism found in our smallest cities/towns (our “micropolitans”) are the places where interesting things are happening. These places matter.

Urban Escapees are at the city (re)builder’s intersection of: Commerce & Community

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So call go ahead and disparage us by calling us “Brooklynizers” or “Hipsturbians” because you can’t fathom another option outside the big city. That’s okay. The fact is, the movement is real. You just haven’t imagined it properly.

That lifestyle option is revitalizing the micropolitan — It is the future many of us want. The longer you view it as something else the more opportunity for us!

photo: Dave Reid

MILEAGE TALLY: 306/1,000

A few years ago I used a self-directed IRA to purchase vacant property across from our house. Self-directed IRAs are typically used for real estate development so you can add rental income into your retirement savings — but that’s not the only thing you can do with them. I used a self-directed IRA to prevent the development of an empty city lot (aside from landscaping it).

Through this process I met an individual with an interesting project: using retirement funds — in conjunction with three other investors — to revitalize a rural outpost with a major marketing problem. The outpost is Keddie, California, population 66. This scenic spot was a popular resort until a chilling unsolved murder in the early 1980s destroyed it.

To protect this person’s identity s/he will not be named, but, I think you’ll find the perspective interesting and inspiring.

 

Do you know of anyone else who has used their self-directed IRA to buy a town?

The Keddie Project has 4 owners.  Three, including myself, used their IRAs to make this purchase.  The 4th owner used his 401K.  We acquired the town by way of a trade or exchange of properties. Originally, we all invested our IRAs in 13 acres of lake front land and planned to subdivide it into 40 lots.  Unfortunately, the housing market crash forced a long delay in our plans.  Ultimately we worked a great deal with the corporation that owned Keddie.

 

What business(es) exist or are planned for your town?

When the Union Pacific pulled their maintenance station out of Keddie several years ago, the restaurant and hotel businesses had to find new customers.  The then owner turned the businesses into student housing and cafeteria services.  A few years before we acquired the town, the students moved to college housing and the businesses closed.  Our plan is to complete the initial rehab of the 20 remaining cabins, which will take approximately 2 to 2 1/2 more years.  We then hope to attract other IRA investors to the project to raise enough funds to complete the rehab in the restaurant, coffee shop, gift shop, grocery store, theater, convention center, day spa and amphitheater.  All businesses will be rehabbed to current safety codes and be ADA compliant.

Why do you feel confident making these investments?  

We have experienced phenomenal support from the local government officials, local townspeople and previous Keddie residents.  As an example, the retired high school Vice Principal brings his own landscape maintenance tools and donates his time to help clean up the grounds.  He grew up in Keddie.  

 

The township of Keddie, California, founded in 1910, has a rich railroad history.  The town was named by and for Arthur W. Keddie (1842 – 1924), who is credited in founding the Western Pacific Railroad on March 3, 1903.  Arthur W. Keddie was referred to as “The Father of the Beckwith Pass and the North Fork Transcontinental Railroad Route” and once served as a United States Deputy Surveyor.  Folks who worked on the Western Pacific Railroad founded a railroad museum in a local town.  They refer to Keddie as the Holy Grail of their history.  The officials of the museum have offered us a Dining Car and possibly a WP locomotive to be housed at Keddie.  The Dining Car would be an attachment to the new restaurant.  My partner found a restaurant owner in Sacramento looking to sell all the restaurant equipment in a newly acquired restaurant.  After [name omitted] told the owner about our project, he actually donated everything to us.  His estimate of the value of the equipment we acquired was $250,000.00.  It’s all housed in the lodge at Keddie, waiting for the final rehab to start.  On a final note about our level of confidence, one of my tenants not only was born at Keddie, but his father owned Keddie at one time.  That tenant is a licensed Contractor and is donating his labor to do some of the rehab.

 

How walkable is Keddie?

Keddie is a town in a forest.  It’s only 40 acres and is totally walkable.  You can even walk down to the river that flows, year around, through Keddie.  (Yes, we own the river too.)  We plan to some day acquire adjacent properties and develop great walking trails along the river.

[NOTE: "Location lottery" assets!]

 

What other plans do you have for Keddie’s revitalization/growth?

The restoration project planned for Keddie is designed to fit into the needs of the local communities in Plumas County.  Currently the local community of Quincy is suffering a severe downturn in their economy.  The unemployment rate is double the national average at 19.8%.  This project is designed to ultimately hire approximately 60 temporary and permanent tradespeople from the local area.  The planning process takes into account the need to bring the housing units and commercial businesses up to current building and safety codes.  There is also a major interest in designing the various rehab projects to be as “green” as possible.  The final rehab project will allow us to hire the following local tradesman:

• General Contractor: 1
• Electrician: 1
• Carpenter: 2
• Energy Consultant: 1
• Roofers: 3
• Tree Service workers: 3
• Portable lumber mill service: 2
• Plumbers: 2
• Painters: 4
• Security Personnel: 3
• Housekeeping Staff: 5
• Wait Staff: 12
• Cooks: 3
• Baker: 1
• Gardeners: 2
• Stone Mason: 1
• General Laborers: 4
• Bookkeeper: 1
• Network Administrator: 1
• Resort Manager: 1
• Day Spa workers / masseuses: 2
• Restaurant Manager: 1

My goal is to eliminate of about 1/2 of the local town’s unemployment.  Cool thing to do with an IRA, huh!

Absolutely! Anything else you’d like to add about relocating to a small town / business building / etc?

The way the project is designed and currently working, the big ticket items are funded by our IRAs.  The intermediate rehab of the cabins is funded by the cabins’ rent.  Essentially, the town is building itself back by itself (given our design).  I give tenants very cheap rent in exchange for their volunteer labor to continue the rehab work. The idea of this project comes from a form of martial art named Aikido.  In Aikido you use the energy of an opponent (our little town) and redirect it into a positive direction. [emphasis added] If used correctly, you use very little of your own energy to accomplish your goal. I hope my ramblings have made sense.  If not let me know and I’ll try to further clarify our ideas.

photo: SP8245

MILEAGE TALLY: 278/1,000 (Eek! Falling behind!*)

Writes Joseph A. of his photo: “New Paltz’s small downtown is incredibly vibrant and eclectic for its size.”

Today’s headline in The Washington Post read, “We’re No. 1 – (again!)” — for traffic congestion:

The No. 1 ranking is the good news. The bad news is that it’s going to get worse.

[... D.C. is...] a place where the average driver burns 67 hours and 32 gallons of gas each year sitting in traffic. [...] By 2020, analysts say, the average U.S. driver will spend an additional seven hours in traffic each year and waste six more gallons of gas.

In addition to D.C. the study gave similar predictions for New York as well as each city my husband and I lived in as singletons: Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco. Traffic. Ugh!

Meanwhile, a new study from the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium released earlier this month showed that cyclists are the happiest commuters of all — even when you account for potential traffic accidents. Walkable commutes make people even happier still, even if the walk is just five minutes long. HELLO?!

Walkable & Bikeable Micropolitans

It’s stats like those that make me excited to help people see what has long been ignored: that our smallest pockets of urbanism (“micropolitans“) are very walkable and bikeable! Traditional neighborhoods and rural downtowns have these qualities…and there are plenty of intersecting trends that make living outside the “big city” increasingly appealing.

What these kinds of places need MORE of is:

Community-centric, neighborhood businesses & organizations -> THINGS TO DO & PLACES TO GO

Additional resources to strengthen economic development (locally and, increasingly, virtually)  -> a/k/a, JOBS & NETWORKS

Artists, changemakers, entrepreneurs, and ambitious creative sorts -> PEOPLE LIKE YOU

Micropolitan living is changing.

The good news is that life in rural downtowns now includes greater diversity and connection to the “outside” than ever before. It’s different than it was just ten years ago in terms of opportunity. Just look at how increasingly common it is to work remotely or have an online business, as just two examples!

But, virtual ain’t everything.

I like discussing the independent business building happening in these places because you can see this enthusiasm and creativity up close, e.g., Vintage Karma or I Heart Yakima. Building a viable business is a creative challenge and a fiscal challenge. One of the rewards is that your efforts actively contribute to the place where you live.

I think it’s valuable for those pursuing projects to hear voices from others doing the same, too, which is why I feature a monthly question to fellow “urban escapees” — like this one, about 2013 goals.

So those of you who are stuck in traffic — either literally or figuratively, YES, there is a better way to live.

*As for that biking mileage tally, above?

My cold weather biking mileage, above, won’t keep me on track for RAGBRAI at this rate. But, it’s worth mentioning that I’ve been averaging 20 miles a week walking to and from our neighborhood grocery. (I know this because I bought a Fitbit to help me get ready for July.) And yes, I’m pretty happy with a nearly car-free lifestyle. Aren’t you?

photo: Joseph A.