By Adrian C. Ott        

Not far from my home are the grounds to a large western rodeo.  Dusty pick-up trucks drive around town sporting bumper stickers that say, "Cowboy up!" 

"Cowboy Up!" means that when you fall off the horse you have to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep trying. It is a shift in attitude from "can't" to a positive "can-do" with confidence.  It is a non-complaining spirit that becomes contagious. 





Indeed, the economy is rough right now.  If we are not hurting personally, we have family and friends that are experiencing pain.   We are suffering the consequences of lost jobs, lost income and lost opportunities. Businesses are suffering as well.

Employees and the media whine about why things don't work...and then we wonder why they don't. Have you ever heard of a situation being solved by whining?  During tough times, it is far easier to lay low, burrow into deep trenches and say "No" rather than having the courage to say, "Yes, let's try to make this work.' 

But we have the power to change all of that.  The U.S. is the most entrepreneurial country in the world today. The Silicon Valley specifically is renown for fast-paced innovation. Gains are not made by abiding by rote learning, and hard and fast rules. Winners thrive on change and flexibility to act. When a start-up, or new technology or new market doesn't work, we learn from it and move on.

We should not let fear of the economy keep us from pursuing risks in penetrating new markets, and higher-potential opportunities.  Risk-taking is a wild ride even in good times. Let's not hobble our employees, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists with more rules, more taxes, and more reasons not to contribute.

Take a look at your product and service portfolio for your business.  Is it comprised entirely of safe bets and low reward product extensions?  Or do you have a portion of your new offering pipeline invested in a few high risk, high reward opportunities? 

Now is the time to "Cowboy Up!" on innovative market opportunities, lest we stay on "safe" ground and get kicked in the head by our competitors.


(c) 2009 Exponential Edge Inc.  All Rights Reserved