Intiution & Innovation
By Johnny Birdsong | YOUR Southern Gentleman
Hello everyone. It's September and time for our annual Real Estate & Home issue. It is also another opportunity for me to meet and talk with one of our wonderful local Southern Gentlemen. And wow, do we have the perfect match for both this month!
This Southern Gentleman, who I am honored to call my friend, has it all: Wit, charm, wisdom, integrity, a passion for life and a love for our amazing community. Mr. Dudley Smith is the Founding Partner, Creative Director and Executive Vice President of CPS Land, LLC and Land Innovations. Both firms complement each other with the goals of creating better communities and contributing in a positive manner to the enduring legacy of our area. So, without further ado - let's have a chat with Dudley Smith.
What are some things you love most about Williamson County?
The heart and soul of this county is the town of Franklin. It’s like no other place. It’s a combination of the preservation of the architecture and the people. It’s warm, inviting, engaging and authentic. You can’t replicate that.
What do you think about all of the changes happening in our community?
Growth is good. Do I like the traffic and being honked at? No, but I’d rather have a traffic problem than live somewhere where people can’t get a job or our kids have to move far away to find work.
What are some of the things you’d like to improve in Williamson County?
The most pressing issue is the lack of affordable housing. A model affordable housing community for essential workers, young professionals and low-income families is on my wish list. There should be no excuses. And we need someone to spearhead that movement. But we have to allow for a little more density for it to happen. Incentivizing developers to include affordable housing in new developments and reducing regulatory barriers could help with this.
What led you to construction, project management, and ultimately becoming a founding partner with CPS Land, LLC and Land Innovations?
I’ve been in design and development since I was twenty-three years old. I’m wired to find how to take something that could be ordinary and make it special. And I get that from my mom, who was a fashion designer. I designed my first house at age eleven and still have the drawings. Founding CPS Land, LLC and Land Innovations was a natural progression, allowing me to channel my creativity and vision into developing communities that enhance quality of life.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
I love seeing a project evolve from a concept to a thriving community. Knowing that our work contributes positively to people’s lives, is incredibly rewarding.
What and to whom do you attribute your success?
My parents for teaching me perseverance and integrity. Key mentors, including Mr. John McCain and Rick Holton, really seasoned me for this path and taught me how to think outside the box. And they were tough on me! I’m a people pleaser, I’m not good at conflict, but they put me in situations to force me to learn how to deal with conflict. Also, my companies have thrived because of the teams behind them. Land Innovations is a bunch of misfits. We’re not the quarterback, the prom queen, not first in our class. But we’re a family and we work our a**es off. I always say, ‘Give me your best and I will give you mine.’ And my team does that, every single day.
What would you say is your superpower?
My intuition. I can spend a few minutes with somebody and get to know them really quick.
In your opinion, what epitomizes a Southern Gentleman?
My dad is a Southern Gentleman. He had a servant’s heart. He was gracious, thoughtful, organized.
What advice would you give to a young person today to help them reach their potential and be the best they can be?
Find something you love and find a way to get paid for it. Everything shapes you for where you're going: Who you hang out with, who you date, even the moms of the girls you date. And everything is a lesson. Don’t underestimate the power of attitude, passion and grit. I’ll take a hustler with a great attitude over someone who had it handed to them any day. Also, listen to your nudges. Know when it’s happening and don’t discount it because destiny is real. Find your crew; the real friends who you can share your struggles with. And don’t forget to have fun.
