Tell Me What Makes Your Town Great: Let’s Talk Assets

As a speaker, I talk a lot about town assets, and I’m referring to those things that you take for granted because it’s part of the everyday scenery. For example, I feel that many Coloradans take sunshine for granted.  I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where it was rainy a lot of the time. The sun that shines through my bedroom window nearly every morning is something I never take for granted. 

However, I kill houseplants. I simply do not see them because at some point after I purchase a houseplant it blends into the background. Thankfully, Ryan takes care of the one bonsai that we have, otherwise we’d be a plant-free zone.

In my travels around Colorado and beyond, I am lucky to experience a lot of various towns and their assets; assets and qualities that may not always be seen by the people who live there.

I was once on the phone with a woman from Lamar who works in the economic development sector. Lamar, a town of about 7,600, is located in southeast Colorado, about 30 minutes from the Kansas state line. 

She told me a story about a Lamar park she’d frequented since her childhood. Today, she takes her son there a few times a week. One day, while there, an out-of-towner approached and said, “This is a really great little park!” Looking around, she realized it was a great little park. This was her aha moment. She had been taking this park for granted. 

This is normal. It’s what we do, and sometimes it just takes a gentle reminder from a stranger to remind us of our town’s greatness. 

Part of why people are drawn to reading blogs like this is that they want to know what is cool about a particular place (thus deciding if they will go). The “cool” factors are often the assets of that community, whether that’s a hot spring venue, tasty restaurant or friendliness. 

Picking the Right Colorado Hot Spring for You

I want to read about your city or town. What assets does it have? And remember, like I always say in my presentations, “Your town doesn’t have to be the home to the holy grail.” Maybe it has an exceptional hamburger, or a cute downtown, or perhaps the people are truly friendly. These are all assets to a community. 

What assets does your town have? Leave me a comment below. It’s time to brag a bit about where you live.