Episode 6: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel? Maybe You Should.

You’ve heard the phrase. You’ve probably said it: “Let’s not reinvent the wheel.” But what if that mindset is keeping us from real solutions?

In this episode, Wes and David take a hard look at the cliché—and argue that relying too heavily on other people’s answers can actually short-circuit innovation, especially in rural communities and complex systems.

They unpack:

• Why “not reinventing the wheel” can be lazy leadership
• The dangers of assuming sameness in community solutions
• How starting from scratch invites creativity, ownership, and context
• Why borrowing policies and plans can erode public trust
• The power of starting with a blank sheet and local wisdom

This one’s for the leaders who are tired of copy-paste planning and want to build strategies that actually fit their communities.