Table Of Content“ We need government to be more innovative and inventive, and in
We the Possibility, Mitchell Weiss shows that achieving it isn’t a pipe
dream. It’s within our reach.”
— MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, 108 th Mayor of New York City;
founder, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies
“ As an optimist and businessperson who started several companies
before I served in government, I felt that We the Possibility struck a
chord with me. At the Department of Commerce we hung a sign in
our offi ce that read, “Trust your crazy ideas.” That sign continually
encouraged us to unleash innovative thinking, experimentation,
and an entrepreneurial spirit for the benefi t of America’s businesses
and workers. Mitchell Weiss captures this mantra well by offering a
myriad of examples that show how to make our government operate
better at a time when we most need it to solve tectonically signifi -
cant challenges and create more-inclusive opportunity for all Amer-
icans. This compelling book is well worth a read.”
—PENNY PRITZKER, entrepreneur; former US Secretary of Commerce
“ In a sector crying out for innovation but where politics punishes
failure, Mitch Weiss shows us how and why thoughtful risk-taking
in public policy and government is the path to a hopeful future.”
—DEVAL PATRICK, former Governor of Massachusetts
“ America’s social contract is in tatters, and the moment to rewrite
it is now. To do so requires new voices with new ideas that will re-
animate our democracy. Mitchell Weiss is one such voice, and We
the Possibility provides exactly the kind of framework we need to
make our new ideas a reality and help deliver a better democracy.”
— ALEC ROSS, author, New York Times bestseller, The Industries of the Future;
former Senior Adviser for Innovation to the US Secretary of State
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“ We the Possibility is an important book for public-sector leaders look-
ing to build bridges between government and top innovators in
science and technology. To bend the arc of progress toward public
good, we must confront the dilemmas of emerging technology by
shifting our mindset to public-sector entrepreneurship.”
— ASH CARTER, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International
Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School; former US Secretary of Defense
“M itch Weiss is one of the world’s best thinkers about government
innovation—and I’ve been waiting years for him to write a book.
I’m pleased to say it’s been worth the wait. We the Possibility is chock-
full of great ideas for transforming the public sector. Essential
reading for anyone who wishes government was more capable and
creative—this book shows how that dream can become a reality.”
— ROHAN SILVA, former Senior Policy Adviser to British Prime Minister
David Cameron
“ This extraordinary book vanquishes the idea that government in-
novation is an oxymoron. The status quo, Weiss reminds us, can
present the biggest risk of all. Through deft combinations of public-
sector adventure stories and thoughtful analysis, Weiss leads read-
ers out of the dead ends of binary thinking (government = bad; tech
sector = good—or vice versa) and into a world in which govern-
ment is as fl exible, imaginative, and hopeful as the people it serves.”
— JENNIFER BRADLEY, founding Director, Center for Urban Innovation,
Aspen Institute
“ Innovation is hard. Innovation in government is a lot harder. Mitch
Weiss, one of the leading experts on civic innovation, has written
an inspiring and practical guide to the art of the possible, of actually
getting new things done in government.”
—DAN DOCTOROFF, founder and CEO, Sidewalk Labs
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“ As the mayor of one of America’s largest cities, I know that govern-
ments are too often tied to staid approaches to keep pace with a rap-
idly changing country. That was true even before we began trying
to address a global pandemic, civil unrest, demands to address long-
standing racial inequities, the threat of climate change, the impact
of automation and globalization on our workforce, mass unemploy-
ment, and a lack of access to affordable housing and health care. For-
tunately, this book provides a road map for local leaders who want
to create a culture of public entrepreneurship that encourages the
kind of fresh thinking that can lead us to the innovative solutions
our times require.”
—ERIC JOHNSON, Mayor of Dallas, TX
“ Now more than ever, policy makers must ask what’s possible rather
than settling for what’s probable. Mayors often feel as though we’re
supposed to stick with what we know. But to meet the demands of
the largest problems of our day—Covid-19, climate change, racial
justice—we must innovate and accept the risk that it might not all
work. We need to build, measure, and learn. We the Possibility pro-
vides a guide and, importantly, the inspiration and insight we need
to step into the unknown in pursuit of the best solutions to meet our
communities’ needs today and well into the future.”
—LAUREN MCLEAN, Mayor of Boise, ID
“ We the Possibility is full of stories I loved reading. They demonstrate
how we can be more open to taking calculated risks. The distinction
the book draws between probability and possibility government
is illuminating, and something I would like to remind myself as I
govern.”
—NAN WHALEY, Mayor of Dayton, OH
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“ At a time when our problems seem to be getting bigger and bigger
and our minds and hearts seem to be getting smaller and smaller,
governments need to be able to try more, fail more, and succeed
more. Mitch Weiss offers us a way forward through Possibility Gov-
ernment, presenting practical and thoughtful solutions for how we
can generate new ideas, test them, and replicate good ones.”
—NAHEED NENSHI, Mayor of Calgary, Alberta
“ We see increasing public frustration with government’s inability to
fi nd answers to the basic problems at the forefront of our everyday
lives. As a mayor in today’s evolving and escalating web of chal-
lenges, it’s becoming increasingly diffi cult for government to deliver
answers that will actually improve people’s lives. Amid this paral-
ysis, Professor Weiss brings critical lessons for leaders of govern-
ments in a time of unprecedented need. We the Possibility defi nes
what’s lacking in government problem solving and maps out a path
forward for governments to actually innovate and meet the chal-
lenges of today.”
—TIM KELLER, Mayor of Albuquerque, NM
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Htaor nSeoslvsein Og uPru Mbloics tE Unrtgreepnrte Pnreoubrlsehmips
MITCHELL WEISS
Harvard Business Review Press
Boston, Massachusetts
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For Mom and Dad
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