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Want Talent? Drink at Lunch! - Urbanophile

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Started 2 years ago by Walker
Latest reply from 10sun

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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Thought this was a very interesting article from The Urbanophile:

Want Talent? Drink at Lunch!
Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Cities obsess over attracting talent these days. I happen to think almost none of them are actually serious about it. But if they were, how should they go about doing it?

Most cities are in a fiscal bind right now, so for some time IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve been asking myself what cities could do that would cost little to no money that could create a material uptick in their attractiveness to younger, college degreed people. I plan to start occasionally posting some of these.

My idea for today is a very simple one: change the local business culture so that it is not just tacitly tolerated but actively accepted to drink alcohol at lunch again.

READ MORE: http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/01/14/want-talent-drink-at-lunch/

Posted 2 years ago #
arenn

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Thanks for the link.

I think this would be awesome for recruiting young people. "Welcome to Columbus. Did I mention we all have a beer at lunch?"

How sweet would that be?

Posted 2 years ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Maybe one of our local breweries can market a low alcohol lunch beer to kick off the campaign?

Posted 2 years ago #
cc

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Unless you are talking about more than one beer I really don't see this as having much effect. I don't think that real talent cares one way or another whether they order one beer at lunch regardless of corporate culture and I really don't see this as having anything to do with a 'city', more a corporation and even then it is dubious. This strikes me more as a way for restaurants to make more of a profit on the lunch crowd.

casual fridays anyone....

Posted 2 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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CC - Perhaps this idea by itself wouldn't cause a sea change, but coupled with a few other good cultural ideas, I think it could actually have an impact.

I hear that Austin lets their employees get weird during lunch.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
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The social acceptance or lack thereof of an alcoholic drink at lunch is more reflective of the degree of tolerance of the local culture as a whole. Unfortunately, I don't see an individual tactic like this wooing people to Columbus.

Anyhow, I never understood the big deal. I try to have a beer or glass of wine as often as possible for lunch and I don't care who's looking and judging.

Posted 2 years ago #
Rastapasta
Olde North
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JonMyers wrote >>

Anyhow, I never understood the big deal. I try to have a beer or glass of wine as often as possible for lunch and I don't care who's looking and judging.

I heard some people have to work for the man-- what a drag right? lol

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
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Rastapasta wrote >>

JonMyers wrote >>
Anyhow, I never understood the big deal. I try to have a beer or glass of wine as often as possible for lunch and I don't care who's looking and judging.

I heard some people have to work for the man-- what a drag right? lol

lol - true. Well, unless someone is sober, which I would respect I expect to see drinking at my business lunches.. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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From Pollan via Rorabaugh:
Ã¢â‚¬Å“As the historian W.J. Rorabaugh tells the story in The Alcoholic Republic, we drank the hard stuff at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, before work and after and very often during. Employers were expected to supply spirits over the course of the workday; in fact, the modern coffee break began as a late-morning whiskey break called Ã¢â‚¬Å“the elevenses.Ã¢â‚¬Â (Just to pronounce it makes you sound tipsy.) Except for a brief respite Sunday morning in church, Americans simply did not gatherÃ¢â‚¬â€whether for a barn raising or quilting bee, corn husking or political rallyÃ¢â‚¬â€without passing the whiskey jug."

Posted 2 years ago #
arenn

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Glad to see that Midwest pessimism alive and well.

I'm not suggesting this is completely transformational, but to me I look at it like taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I don't know what it will do for me, but it's got to be more than doing nothing.

Cities in this part of the country spend all their time talking about how things won't work. Other places try new things and discover that some of them do work. Then and only the does this region try to copy them, but of course by then, they are a day late and a dollar short.

Posted 2 years ago #
JonMyers
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arenn wrote >>
Glad to see that Midwest pessimism alive and well.

On the contrary, I generally find the Midwest to be too agreeable rather than pessimistic. Skepticism and spirited debate is the lifeblood of many successful cities. Not to mention thick skin will get you a lot further in most things.

The general psyche of Columbus is getting a little more skeptical, which is healthy.

Our parking meter debacle was refreshing because it's the first time I've seen the urban champions of Columbus ditch the rah rah shit and put the mayor in his place on an urban issue. I look forward to seeing more productive skepticism that gets those kind of results.

Sorry, like I said I don't see one minor tactic like a drink at lunch as transformative. I honestly wish it could be. lol, not to mention we wouldn't exactly be pioneering the concept.

I do agree on the stairs... Always take the stairs. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
JimSweeney
E. Fton
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you know Tommy's Diner does serve beer now. you have to drink it fast though. they need the table.

Posted 2 years ago #
UncommonSense
Hilliard
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How does one change the local business culture? And who is expected to do it? I don't see the Chamber of Commerce or City Hall putting out a PSA reminding everyone to have a drink or two for lunch.

Posted 2 years ago #
Schoolboy
Columbus
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very good idea
i think something that many young people crave that is lost in much of our city is actual good ol fashioned human interaction. compared to the 80's, from my experience it's overly prudish here now.

there's something else that would help revamp our image as a "fun" city, but i dare not say it in this thread

Posted 2 years ago #
howatzer

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wait... most people don't drink at lunch?

Posted 2 years ago #
Analogue Kid
5th by West-Northwest
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I've gathered from the more "experienced" people at the company I work for that there used to be almost a party atmosphere back in the day. They even had free company provided alcohol on site on a regular basis. Not so much any more, whether for liability reasons or somebody thinks its just not "professional".

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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Isn't there an advertising agency here in town that publishes right on their website they keep a fridge full of beer? I'm sure I saw that at some point, but drawing a blank on who it is.

Posted 2 years ago #
J.R. Locke
Weinland Park
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Booze = less inhibitions. I imagine that creative work, customer service that would be great.

Working the docks not so much.

Mad Men is changing the world.....back.

Posted 2 years ago #
noveltybuff
Newly, Columbus
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As a 'younger, college degreed' person who recently decided to move to Columbus, I might be a good anecdotal example. While I doubt it would factor into my moving decision, it would help me feel good about my choice after the fact - as reading these message boards does. To take a risk in this economic climate (even if I am a bit older than the 'Recession Generation,' as dubbed by Newsweek) can be daunting, so validation is always welcome.

Posted 2 years ago #
dcd

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Found this really amusing. My wife and I just moved from Denver, we are always joking about how nobody here in Columbus has a drink with lunch. In Denver, a drink with lunch was a regular practice.

Posted 2 years ago #