Nancy Anderson, columnist

Davy Jones died.

I know that may not mean much to you, but he was an integral part of my growing up years. It was the Monkees. It was the transition to the 70s, and I was just a kid watching each Saturday morning as that zany foursome sang and schticked their way through a skimpy plot line. Of course, I had a crush on Davy.

When I heard of his death, my first response was “Ahhh…” and then a great sadness settled over me. After that, I just began smiling as I thought of those songs and my sweet memories of the teen heartthrob. Davy didn’t do much after the Monkees. That is, he stayed out of the limelight and lived a normal life — no big scandals, no bad boy behavior.

The Monkees didn’t change the world or add anything monumental to their “art.” They were just four fun and happy fellows who experienced a brief 15 minutes of fame. They didn’t even get rich off this gig, but they left a mark on one impressionable young girl.

And I thought of my own normal life. Each day I go about my business , hoping I am leaving a trail behind of warm feelings. Do I deal fairly with my customers? Do I conduct my business in such a way that matches my stated values? Are my students better off for having walked into my classroom? Do the people who disagree with me still feel respected when we part ways?

Unlike Davy, when I pass, it won’t make the news. Only family and friends will take note, but I hope for an “Ahhh…” followed by smiles. How terrible if the response were, “Good riddance!”

Great accomplishments and great wealth account for nothing when all is said and done. I’ll measure my success by the sweet, sad smiles I leave behind.

So, goodbye Davy Jones. You’ll always be my favorite Monkee. And I’ll keep striving for your same sweet ending. Just call me a daydream believer.

>> Nancy Lottridge Anderson, Ph.D., CFA, is president of New Perspectives Inc. in Ridgeland — (601) 991-3158. She is also an assistant professor of finance at Mississippi College. Her e-mail address is nanderson@newper.com, and her website is www.newper.com.

Enter Jim Barksdale, former boy genius and tech guru who was on the front lines of the internet explosion with Netscape and AOL. Barksdale was educated in Jackson public schools and found his way to the upper echelons of high-tech business. And he came home to Mississippi.

Barksdale’s leading cause? Education. With his Barksdale Institute and his philanthropy, he has walked the walk. Barksdale understands that economic development goes hand-in-hand with an educated workforce, and educating our workforce is a long-term endeavor, not for the faint of heart.

So Gov. Bryant wisely appointed him to head the Mississippi Development Authority, and some cried foul. Had Barksdale ever “done” economic development? Was this just a political move?

I think it’s time to hang up the old model of economic development and try on one more fit for the 21st century. We should adopt a long-term view, with an emphasis on education. We should work with any entity available to make the internet accessible to every corner of our state. We should teach our citizens to fish, by showing them how to use technology to reach far-flung customers, whether from the cotton fields of the Delta or the pine forests of East Mississippi.

Jim Barksdale may not have “done” economic development, but he has lived in the worlds of business and technology long enough to know what works. I say we give him the room and support to try a few new things. What have we got to lose?

Nancy Lottridge Anderson, Ph.D., CFA, is president of New Perspectives Inc. in Ridgeland — (601) 991-3158. She is also an assistant professor of finance at Mississippi College. Her e-mail address is nanderson@newper.com, and her website is www.newper.com.