Ellington

Even I get discouraged. As much as I champion Jackson, there are times that its outdated vestiges rear their ugly heads. There are times when the corporate status quo takes a few slow promising steps forward, then a disappointing few steps backward.

It's at our greatest moments that sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot—or at least aim the gun that way. My head is bloodied, yet unbowed.

We've all known this fight for our city would be a long one. There may be casualties, but those casualties don't need to be the new generation of professionals that want to stay. It can't be the thousands of renaissance men like myself who multi-task, doing several things while keeping our ears to the streets.

You cannot penalize us for being innovative, right? Is that the best way to attract and retain talent? Will we continue to stay motivated when our ideas are never used?

Currently, no. The politicians play politics. The businessmen play politics. The politics have politics. And our generation of straight shooters has become angry.

This past weekend, I had a great conversation with several of my contemporaries in town, many of whom, like me, have that entrepreneurial spirit. One works in corporate information technology and also runs a studio. Another manages a retail store and DJs throughout the South. Another works for a non-profit and writes a blog.

All of them expressed disgust at this city's current state of affairs. All of them opined at how they felt stagnant and how their employers weren't using their talents. Their employers didn't "understand" what works today, and scoffed at Facebook and Twitter. They said this city still seems to be geared to the "good ole boys."

It's hard for even a ProJack to argue when I see the same things. Our conversation turned to the suburbs and how no one here seems to be noticing that in Clinton, Pearl, Madison, Brandon and Flowood, new restaurants, entertainment venues and retail outlets are popping up. But we don't have the out-of-the-box thinkers in place to combat that suburban growth. What we have are pencil pushers, yes, folks who have no connection to the communities they live in. The egos in this city are so thick you can cut them with a knife.

But I am undeterred. This city will win!

I'm going to do my part. A change is a comin'. In the weeks upcoming you're going to see the more familiar Kaze return—the rabble-rouser, the innovator of vision. I've got to be me—the ProJack! The earring; the wallet-chain; the Chuck Taylors; the brash realness; all the things that made corporate dinosaurs scoff at me in meetings. And all the things that made them uncomfortable when I stood up to speak.

It's time to "re-shake" things up in the capital city. The radio show is returning. The Jackson Progressives are returning. And coming with me are those colleagues who had that great conversation with. We're going to turn this city on its underbelly.

And that's the truth ... sho-nuff.