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- The NIMBY Obstacle Is the Way—Turn Resistance into Results
The NIMBY Obstacle Is the Way—Turn Resistance into Results
Patrick Slevin
August 12, 2025
THE NIMBY OBSTACLE IS THE WAY If you build anything that matters—homes, renewables, infrastructure—you will meet the wall. It has a name: NIMBY. It’s not a “maybe.” It’s a “when.”
Here’s the shift: the obstacle isn’t the enemy. The obstacle is the way forward. The Stoics said it first—and it’s the smartest YIMBY strategy in 2025.
Expect the hit. Opposition is baked into change. If you’re surprised, you weren’t prepared. Anticipation turns panic into planning.
Master your response. Control what you can—your message, your transparency, your engagement strategy. Let go of what you can’t—the first wave of outrage. Composure wins hearings, not indignation.
Turn friction into fuel. Traffic concerns? Integrate transit and win approvals. Environmental fears? Go greener and grab incentives. Emotional testimony? Surface real neighborhood needs and address them directly. Every complaint is a refinement point.
Lead like a Stoic. Facts delivered calmly, with respect for feelings, disarm the crowd and build credibility. NIMBYs stop being adversaries and start becoming unwitting partners in better design and stronger campaigns.
Public hearings aren’t won with PowerPoints—they’re won with people skills. Patrick’s On The Road video tips are your crash course in real-time NIMBY strategy. From body language to messaging cadence, each video shows you how to show up, speak up, and shut down opposition without triggering backlash.
In Case You Missed It
In Case You Missed It “Four Faces of NIMBY Opposition” – This breakdown reveals the psychology and strategy behind each of the four NIMBY archetypes. Knowing which profile you’re dealing with can be the difference between defusing opposition and fueling it.
