Yesterday morning, leaders met in Ypsilanti to list local challenges and solutions.

Yesterday afternoon, one brave leader, Jim Hettinger of Battle Creek Unlimited, addressed the BC-Connected technology networking group on a similar topic, but a very different approach.

Jim introduced his comments by quoting All Along the Watchtower:

“No reason to get excited,”
the thief, he kindly spoke,
“There are many here among us
who feel that life is but a joke.
But you and I, we’ve been through that,
and this is not our fate,
So let us not talk falsely now,
the hour is getting late.”

Jim exhorted his audience to abandon retrograde concepts of entitlement and victimization, and embrace new approaches to education and economic development.

Jim’s comments followed an award ceremony honoring five Battle Creek ventures, from a one-man software shop to the engineering department at local cereal giant Post, part of the Kraft-General Foods conglomerate.