This is the first blog that I ever wrote, when I first started NxtGen over a year ago. Times in Detroit have not got much better, but I feel just as strong about this city as I did that day. On the surface it may not have a lot to do with starting and running a business, but one of the key factor that can not be over looked is passion. I will say it again, I love Detroit and the STATE OF MICHIGAN. I may be the last one to turn the lights off in the state, but I hope that it will never come to that.
Many people have asked me, why would you start a business in Michigan, during a time when the outlook in area is not very good. On Feb 12, 2008 GM announced that it lost 38.7 Billion dollars in 2007. On that same date GM was valued at 15 billion dollars. The largest of the big three, lost more money than it was worth in one year. Detroit leads the country in foreclosures in the year 2007, and the news just keeps getting worse and worse. The numbers of young people leaving the state are astounding. By just listening to the news either in the morning or night, could put a person in a depression. The simple answer and the real reason that I am starting NxtGen Marketing is the same. This is my home, and I believe in the state of Michigan. I have watched both grandfathers run their businesses and my father start businesses in Michigan. I have spent the first six years of my working career as a manufactures rep for sporting goods, calling on small retail shop in the Midwest. I believe that there is still a very vibrant business culture in the state, it just needs some updating. The odd adages “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” is where many businesses are stuck. It is time for businesses in Michigan to start to look for ways to improve their businesses practices, or they can plan on putting the for lease/sale sign on their building. Detroiter’s are blue collar people, which makes us a very resilient people, but it also makes us stubborn. The stubbornness has lead to the down fall of the economy, but is also is going to take that stubbornness to bring back the state. The fact of the matter is that the auto industry is not going anywhere, we need to start rebuilding around the auto industry, with more service oriented and higher technology companies, that can feed off the auto industry, but also can help the industry become more innovative. My hope for NxtGen Marketing is to provide jobs for in the near future, I know that my little company is not going to be the answer, but maybe other companies will follow. One of the most frustrating things for me growing up and living in Michigan is all the negative messages that go out about the state. Another challenge that Michiganders need to take on is trying to talk positively about the state, not put it down. One of my favorite quotes in high school was “if you reach for the stars, at least you will not come up with mud in your hands”. As I reach for my dream of starting and running my own company, I also dream for a better Michigan to raise my kids in.