TROY – Jennifer Granholm hasn’t done enough to save your job. Dick DeVos has sent Michigan manufacturing jobs to China.
Turn on the television or radio, pick up a newspaper or log onto your favorite Web site and you are likely to get bombarded with either of these lines. Personally, I don?t think either is true.
Who do I think is to blame for Michigan?s economic woes?
Me?
And you?and your neighbor?and the couple down the street and the hundreds of thousands of others who thought the good times provided by the auto industry was somehow our God-given right. We are all accountable in one way or another for not preparing to compete in a global economy.
Where did I fall short? My college professors told me more than 20 years ago to learn a second language. The world is getting smaller. You will have to compete on a global stage, they said. Did I listen? Nope.
Who else is accountable? Let?s see?there are auto executives who made big bonuses and had huge stock gains in the ?90s, but didn?t do enough to prepare for tough times ahead. There are factory workers who showed up every day, made a lot of money, but didn?t improve their skills to match the needs of a 21st Century work force.
There are parents who didn?t push their kids in math and science. There are schools that accepted mediocrity among our students. There are students who could have gone to college, but didn?t.
We have all fallen short in one way or another. So, when you pull that lever in November, don?t expect some type of magic solution from DeVos or Granholm.
Look yourself in the mirror and ask some difficult questions. What have I done to make myself more marketable? What have I done to help kids prepare for the future? What have I done to make my community a better place?
Michigan and Michiganders have a lot to offer the world. But, we all need to compete a lot harder if we are going to live up to our potential. Don?t wait for some politician to make it happen. Do it yourself.
This column was provided by Mike DeVilling, Senior Vice President of John Bailey & Associates, a PR firm in Troy. You can read other blog items by clicking on BaileyBlog.Com
