This house on Cass Street, to me, symbolized rebuilding.
The Big Restart
The number one question people ask me these days, “What did you learn running for the mayor of La Crosse?” While I probably have a 50-bullet point list, it boils down to this — it is true what I heard UW-L Emeritus Professor Joe Heim say once. We are becoming more and more polarized. Going beyond that statement gets me into the 50-point list.
Furthermore, the race taught me two other things. First, embracing the unknown and, second, to have faith that it will all will make sense in the end. These both play a role as I restart my business and return to my journalism roots with Engage Greater La Crosse.
Vicki Markussen
CEO/FOunder
Faith & Embracing the Unknown
Believing in something you cannot see.
Oh Lord I was beyond FAR outside my comfort zone. I was on a path I did not envision. All I knew was that in the end, there was a path. That path may be to lose. Yes, I had my pity party — a 200-vote loss, are you kidding me? But within 24 hours, I realized that I’m still me. Nearly 49% of the voters believed in and supported me. I saw the paths needed and not being in City Hall can actually help move faster.
There’s More to That Story
Did I mention there’s still 49 more bullet points? They’re not the point of this story. I’ll share about five more at the Women With Purpose meeting on September 8. Yes. I’m shamelessly promoting this event that unites women in a positive way. The other points, I’m determined to share with people considering running for office who is committed to running a clean race. It’s my pay-it-forward.
Combining What’s Uniquely Vicki
Each of us are given unique sets of knowledge and skills. Mine are merging into Engage Greater La Crosse.
These are the idioms of self-reflection books tell us — and its people who don’t believe any of it that are actually reading the books. It’s the imposter syndrome — the fear someone is going to discover you don’t know what the heck you’re talking about.
When you’re starting your own business, however, you have to throw humility aside and ask — what are my unique skill sets that I can use to launch a business. Admittedly, I had to ask others (who needs a book?!). A wise woman in media explained it to me.
- I’m a journalist, granted with a little dust to brush off — but there is only a few handfuls of us in town
- I communicate well (see point #1)
- I’m female
- People follow me. I guess that makes me a leader.
- I’ve run nonprofits and know many of them
- I understand economic development — another rarity in town
- I know probably more than 1,000 businesses in La Crosse and beyond from 20 years of working with construction, regional economic development, and the Chamber
- My run for mayor gives me an even rarer perspective on government
Each of these combine to create …
News You Won’t get Anywhere Else – Engage Greater La Crosse
News from the intersection of business, community and government that engages you, so you can thrive.
One More Thing, About Being a Woman
If this list of skill sets rubbed you the wrong way, pause. If a man said them, would you blink an eye? One of the reasons women don’t step into leadership is because we don’t feel qualified. Therefore, we put obstacles in our own way. If we all, regardless of gender, want women — our wives and moms — to succeed, we have to react positively when a woman steps up. Here are some jaw-dropping comments I heard, directly or indirectly, as recently as of yesterday:
- You were a woman running for mayor. That was already a check mark against you.
- Is La Crosse ready for a female mayor, we haven’t even had a female head of a bank yet?
- You pushed being a woman too much.
- Oh, that’s what your husband thinks? That surely has influence on you.
I can tell you that there were voters with tears in their eyes at the thought of a woman as Mayor. Men were advocating for change too — who want to see more women in office and in leadership. Let’s celebrate those confident enough to step up. I’ll be clapping loudly behind you.