He did big things as mayor too, but starting with his own ‘little’ goal to get down to 175 pounds grew into an enormous citywide effort. As a 2008 New Year's Resolution, Mayor Mick Cornett challenged Oklahoma City to go on a diet with him – and lose a million pounds. Cities are no different, but good cities have a way of including many perspectives in the big discussions, and ensuring that many (varied) hands make lighter (and more effective) work. Good city managers are aware of just how magical an environment they oversee – and at times, how mysterious and unpredictable. Cities are the world’s great integrators: all about synergy and opportunity. They just need to be asked, listened to, and integrated into the new music. A city is always a work in progress, a bit like an ad hoc jazz session where the mayor and senior administration might have an idea for the current score, but the rest of the orchestra and patrons are likely to have useful inputs of their own. There’s also enormous potential to learn from citizens, suppliers, and academia. Cities are complicated and every one is unique, yet there is great comradery between cities and an unlimited ability to learn from each other. However in all these relationships the city will not win in the long term if the other party loses. A healthy friction between the different levels of government is desirable so too guarded but respectful caution between the regulator-or-customer city and the private sector. Yes, ‘win/win’ is over-used jargon, but for cities it’s true - there’s only one voter and one taxpayer (even in non-democratic countries). All great buildings need a solid foundation. How many cities have we visited where they are building a new grand City Hall, yet much of the garbage still isn’t being collected or the water isn’t flowing? A city’s priorities should be basic services, professionalism and quality of staff, clear metrics, a reliable ongoing base budget, and nurturing a respectful two-way conversation with its residents. Like a city, good plans are living documents. Before starting the plan an agreement is needed that the city is moving forward on this issue: the plan is the vehicle to bring along as many supporters as possible and identify potential potholes and trouble en route. But a plan, no matter how good, can never be seen as a finished product. They are guidance documents, aspirational, and ways to rally supporters and give fair hearing to opponents. Before starting these plans, the end needs to be clear. All cities carry out master plans for their key services, long-term infrastructure needs, and land use planning. Business rewards the active entrepreneur, and the public desperately wants active cities. Even without sufficient budget or authorization from ‘senior levels’ of government, every city has a full menu of things that can be carried out immediately, generating positive momentum and goodwill.

Little big city unlimited energy