Podcast Episode # 106 - The First Month in the ED Director's Chair with Jamie Beasley

Episode 106 of the Econ Dev Show Podcast is live.

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, Jamie Beasley talks with Dane Carlson about leaving law and virtual assistance to pursue a masters in economic development, the challenges of finding an entry-level job with her advanced degree, and her first month leading a rural chamber of commerce in Oklahoma. She provides tips on organization and discusses the potential for virtual assistants in economic development.

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Takeaways

1. Switching careers mid-career can be challenging but rewarding.
2. Entry-level economic development jobs can be hard to come by with an advanced degree.
3. Rural communities offer opportunities to take on many different roles and responsibilities.
4. Relationship building is key in economic development.
5. Strategic doing > strategic planning.
6. Organization is crucial - calendar and file everything.
7. Virtual assistants may find opportunities supporting economic developers.
8. The tools don't have to be complex, just put them to use.
9. Offload the mental clutter of economic development onto your calendar and task manager.
10. Persistence pays off in the job search.

Episode Links

• Jamie Beasley | LinkedIn
• Pushmataha County Chamber of Commerce – Working for the future, preserving the past!
• J.Audra.Lane
• Small Town Solutions: An Economic Development Guide for Small Communities with BIG Dreams
• Corporate Site Selection and Economic Development: A 30-YEAR PERSPECTIVE
• Burn the Business Plan: What Great Entrepreneurs Really Do
• The Birth of a Building: From Conception to Delivery
• Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
• Meant For This: The Mindset and Strategy to Achieve Your Most "Impossible" Dreams
• Strategic Doing

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