During my decade as a DMO CEO, I had the opportunity to work with close to 100 Board members. Some were good, some great. Some were, as someone once said, nothing more than “earthworms in suits.”
And then, there was John Odom. We were lucky enough to land John to serve on the Greater Madison CVB Board in the early 90s...and from his first meeting, it was clear to everyone in the room that they were going to have to step up their game if they wanted to keep up with this guy. For, as a management consultant, John didn’t suffer fools, wasted time or unnecessary drama lightly. John was a man that wanted to see results (and, still does).
When I jumped into consulting a few years later, he served as a mentor, coaching me on the nuances of being a lone agent (and chastising me for charging too little). As my business began to catch fire, we lost touch (my bad).
That is, until a few weeks ago when we quite serendipitously bumped into each other at the same gym, working unbeknownst with the same trainers for some months now. And the decade lost seemed like a few months.
Hoping he’d be proud of some of the lessons I learned from his time on my Board, I sent him a copy of my book on Board Governance. He reciprocated by sending me his book...one that I hadn’t realized he had written.
And one that you should read.
Saving Black America: An Economic Plan for Civil Rights is about as straight-forward as shots across the bow get. John nails the issues plaguing Black America, including once well-meant policies now sadly irrelevant. And this isn’t just a “blame the establishment” exercise, as he also takes aim at those that purport to be leaders of Black America that work to continue the victimization cycle in a sick Machiavellian dance.
And then, John suggests a no-nonsense economic development solution that is so radically refreshing that you catch yourself thinking, “why not?” I won’t spoil the magic by revealing it here...but, it wouldn’t take much to see his concept take root in cities across this country.
Just people with the entrepreneurial spirit...and a passion for the human condition.
Saving Black America is a great book from a great man. A man for whom I wouldn’t have thought I could ever have more respect...but now do.
Thanks, John...and I can’t wait to get my hands on your next book.
Shosholoza.
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