Possibility thinking

Last month 225 hosted MPAC, a new event that was a grand slam for our community. If you went, you know it had a different vibe for the Capital City. One comment I heard at least four times that night was, “This doesn’t feel like Baton Rouge.” Well, guess what? It was! As many of you know, here at 225 our goal is not only to help you discover more about our city and the people that make it a great place to live and work, but also to create new experiences for our readers, our clients and the community at large.

We believe in the power of possibility thinking. We’re constantly trying to innovate and are willing to take risks because we know that nothing limits achievement like small thinking. Possibility thinking is nothing more than thinking beyond the barriers of limitations.

This has been an issue for our community and state for a long time, but attitudes and outlooks are changing. There is a lot of possibility thinking going on and projects on the radar that will be game-changers for our region. In the past few months, as I have given several talks to different audiences in our region, I bring up the positive possibilities idea, and I often hear the same challenges coming from different people. The most common is the inevitable struggle between the “Yes, but” people and the “What if” people.

Here is what I have discovered. In any city or organization there will always be certain people who are wired to think about possibilities. They are the “What if” individuals who are always thinking outside the box and leading the charge for new initiatives. Then there are the gatekeepers. The “Yes, but” people who, no matter how good any idea may be, either don’t want things to change or feel the need to be pragmatic and perhaps cautious about any new idea or initiative presented.

“Yes, but” people need to grow comfortable with the fact that new ideas or brainstorming—whether we’re talking about the BREC golf course or University Lake, for instance—do not threaten our community. Ideas are ideas. We need to delay judgment on them until judgment is due, rather than squashing a potentially valuable idea too soon in the process. A good discussion, debate and time to breathe are necessary steps in developing new ideas.

On the other hand, “What if” people need to understand that ideas without execution are ineffective. Thinking through the allocation of time and resources, as well as outcomes, is critical to making those good ideas count. I believe that both of these types of residents need to work better together to continue the pursuit of positive possibilities throughout our city and our state.

There’s no question that we here in south Louisiana know how to have a good time. But we all go about this in our own unique ways. This month 225 is introducing an exciting new feature in our What’s Up section that is all about getting your party on. It’s called A Good Time With, and our first subject is Baton Rouge’s fun-loving country singer David St. Romain. The Nashville Star finalist shares with us his “must” list for hosting a party at his family’s home. If you’d like to be considered for A Good Time With, contact us by emailing [email protected].

I remember, years ago, watching former heavyweight boxer Ken Norton being interviewed, and one thing he said I still remember. He said, “Of all the titles I’ve been privileged to have, Dad’ has always been the best.” It was a powerful statement and one that resonates with me. Last month we put the spotlight on five local career moms, and now, with Father’s Day around the corner on June 15, it is the guys’ turn. We are featuring an attorney, a musician, a developer, a furniture craftsman and entrepreneur, and the leader of a dynamic local arts organization. Meet our dads as they share advice and insights into fatherhood.

Few things are more traditional in Baton Rouge than the grand southern-style wedding day with all the trimmings: the old church, the expansive reception hall, the multi-level cake and flowers. But what if you want to keep things simple and inexpensive on your wedding day? Local fashion industry veterans Andi and Micah Nickens did just that when they were married in a romantic and slightly clandestine manner this spring. Find out where this creative couple got hitched as well as some ideas for alternative wedding venues in the Capital City.

They set the tone and the mood for so many places and events in the Capital City—from bars and nightclubs to charity galas and weddings. In many ways, they are the musical tastemakers. But who are the men and women behind the music? Meet several of Baton Rouge’s most popular and unique DJs with assistant editor Benjamin Leger’s profile of these creative members of our community.