In about a month I will celebrate my ten year anniversary with the Twin Cities. I moved to Minnesota from it’s southernmost neighbor fresh out of college and hungry for adventure. I immediately fell in love with my surroundings, and after I was able to invite myself past the infamous “Minnesota Ice” habits of the natives, I fell in love with the people here too.
After ten years I consider myself a true Minnesotan. I’ve tried all of the Juicy Lucys, I’ve snowshoed, I’ve gone ‘up North’ for the weekend, my ‘o’s’ are a little longer, and I’ve gotten lost and found a million times.
When we started the process of reimagining tech.mn in 2019 we kept asking ourselves, “What makes Minnesota special? What makes Minnesota different? What makes Minnesota the place to be?”
With time we found that the best answers to those questions came from the people living it. We debuted The tech.mn Podcast in September 2019. On the show we interview Minnesotans in the technology and startup community. The greatest takeaway from these conversations isn’t about tech or entrepreneurship, however.
At the end of every interview we ask the guest what is something (outside of work) that they love about Minnesota. 70 interviews later, these answers paint a picture of the Minnesota we know and love with the words we couldn’t begin to capture.
In episode eight Scott Burns describes the balance of life that is special to Minnesota. This includes a work ethic that is stabilized by family values, a culture of celebration around each season, and our wonder of the outdoors.
Liz Giorgi waxes poetic about northern Minnesota in a way that makes you feel like you’re there. The tradition of appreciation for our surrounding environment brings a sense of peace and joy to everyday life.
We often talk about what will attract investors, companies, and talent to our state. Our pull won’t be found in typical business buzzwords. While we may have some of those qualities, so does every other global city. Our allure will be in the nuances of a culture of balanced lifestyles, the desire to become a better place, and gratitude for our homeland.
I’d love to hear what YOU love about Minnesota. Send me a tweet on twitter and let me know.
