I have been talking to a lot of people here in Carbondale about what it takes to be successful around here. This region presents a lot of obstacles for businesses, given the wide distances that separate everyone, the slow penetration of the internet, the sometimes less than visionary people in positions of power, and the general demographics. Simple things take longer to do here. For two and a half years I have lived here and watched people struggle along and fight against all the forces, be they the rising gas prices or falling sleet, that they cannot control. Everyone plugs along and works twice as hard to get the same results that are more easily attainable in more 'progressed' regions. It's not just here, basically anywhere somewhat rural without a significant economic advantage and all ducks in a row in terms of community and governmental support and vision is suffering.

So the bottom line that most everyone realizes or figures out is that to make it here, you have make it happen, and sometimes you have to reinvent yourself, and you have to work hard. Also, you have to get your face out in front of people, or they don't trust you.

A lot of people have less employment opportunity and this is magnified as the economy weakens. I read articles about how more people than ever are interested in voting in the upcoming elections because they're hoping some politician somewhere can help them. The fact is, like everyone in southern Illinois has already learned a long time ago, we are on our own and we're going to have to reinvent ourselves to survive. I have been trying to do that ever since the end of Starlab back in 2001, which ruined me forever for a normal 9-5 job interest (because it was such an incredible job). I hope I can help people who want to make the same changes and help them take control of their lives, and possibly make the learning curve a bit shorter for them.

I met someone last week I'm very happy to report who has been here plugging along for years and is making it work, Cavanaugh Gray with his Entrepreneur Cafe. He's been doing the Young Entprepreneurs Program since 1996 and he sees now that more and more non-youth need the same kind of assistance and inspiration. So we'll hopefully be putting our heads together on some projects, casting the nets a bit wider, and drawing on the extra strength that comes in numbers.