Around Town

Getting introspective with Charlotte Center City Partners’ Michael Smith

By Gregory P. Kurts
Diedra Laird dlaird@charlotteobserver.com

The weekly series of informal self-assessment goes on as C5 sits down with a Charlottean to get perspective through three questions:

(1) What are you reading?

(2) What are you listening to?

(3) What are you watching?

We will take the answers to these three questions and find the meaning, theme or message.

Sean Busher

Up this week: Michael Smith, President and CEO of Charlotte Center City Partners, which perpetuates the development of Charlotte’s urban center economically, culturally and residentially.

//><!--Smith brings people and their ideas together to keep the Queen City’s image dynamic and on the cutting edge.//--><!

What are you reading?

I am flipping back and forth between two books. The first is “Paris Reborn: Napoleon III, Baron Haussman, and the Quest to Build a Modern City,” by Stephanie Kirkland. It is a historical account on how Paris was transformed, between 1848 to 1870, from a dirty, dangerous city to the cultural center we know it as today.

The second is “How to be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life,” by Pat Williams and Jim Denney. It is a biography of Walt Disney that highlights his leadership and forward-thinking qualities that still exist today in his legacy.

I also spend time reading through “The Economist,” “Good” online, The Charlotte Observer, Wall Street Journal and other daily periodicals.”

What are you listening to?

I am listening to music on Spotify. My two teenage sons persuaded me to get a monthly subscription and, frankly, I love it.

I have been listening to The Avett Brothers, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Black Crowes and the Pixies.

What are you watching?

Now, I get to finally watch the NBA finals. I also watch ESPN SportsCenter when I get a chance.

What does all of this mean to Michael?

I think it means that I have to constantly feed my brain to be creative. You never know what it is that will inspire you and when.

What is the pattern in biographies and history? You have to always push yourself. What about that band that puts out one great album? It takes years to accumulate and build that one ultimate output of expression …

It is essential to convene people to get ideas for a vision of renewal … to create a process of renewal.

Photo: Diedra Laird/Charlotte Observer

Gregory Kurts works with Wells Fargo Securities. He is an avid reader, banjo player and Bob Dylan fan. Follow him on Twitter at @Pope662.

This story was originally published June 7, 2015 at 9:13 PM with the headline "Getting introspective with Charlotte Center City Partners’ Michael Smith."

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