Comments on: Ok Entrepreneurs, Time to Step Up

By: NaS

NaS — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000

in the world, 75+ countries and increasing: November is for Global Entrepreneurship Week! Care to join us and let entrepreneurs take over the world (instead of just watching politicians talking down on each other)? http://unleashingideas.org

Need all the support we can get!

By: tess

tess — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000

During the .bom 2000 collapse, did all the "great" start-ups survive? and why did they not survive?

By: Jason Kiesel

Jason Kiesel — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000

Great post. The sky is not falling as many would have you believe. I'm going about my business until my business goes away (which isn't any time soon). Media outlets love to fear monger. This entire crisis is, after all, predicated on human psychology.

Jason Kiesel
Founder & CEO
http://www.freedomspeaks.com

By: Samuel Diamond

Samuel Diamond — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:58 +0000

I would give a huge influence to Jared Diamond, and this man:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_J._Toynbee

By: Sanjay Dattatri

Sanjay Dattatri — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:57 +0000

Maybe you will like this video I made: http://sanjaydattatri.blogspot.com/2008/10/its-no...

By: Samuel Diamond

Samuel Diamond — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:57 +0000

There is a difference between gloom and doom, and rationalizing how the market will affect the future of a company.

This time around, you can't look at the internet structure, or look at the economy, and say " Yea – whatever."

Although it is great motivation, people have to remember to have a good idea of just how the world works. It isn't even that hard to look beyond the fodder:

1. Barrel was up $120. Business models couldn't survive. Manufacturing went up.
2. Small letdown in growth; people didn't buy as much to pay for housing.
3. Tightening credit as more people couldn't pay loans; gains sheet for companies based off loans.
4. Every product imaginable becomes 2X more expensive ( Corn, oil, plastics, gas, cereal, fruits.). Multiple that by everything you buy for business or pleasure or sustaining.
5. All of this killed the housing, where most of the bank money is at. People don't buy houses, and some can't afford it with the 50 dollar barrel lifestyle.
6. Those people can't pay, and the banks can't survive.

Now for the future:

7. The spiraling will force a have vs. have-nots model of internet business.
8. Certain things that were free from the ISP end will start withering away or become more expensive ( ie: Bandwidth caps ).
9. Servers that handle sites will need more money for energy use. This will hurt some companies already struggling in the ad revenue dept.
10. Companies will balkinize, breaking into smaller fragments as it becomes more of a concern to be a "leader" than to keep up with a crumbling revenue-dry network.
11. Bigger companies will take advantage of the long-tail, buying the smaller companies or recreating business models and keeping them in-house ( ie: ESPN develops its own ad network, ties with parent company Disney ).
12. Offline structures become more important, but a little precarious as there is much more tension due to the recession.

I can go on and on, and I can be wrong, but I make sure I list the bad, then I can go about creating the good. Never say " Yea – whatever." to any forecast. Be a leader, but have a head on your shoulders. Alan Greenspan just apologized for doing the exact opposite of the latter.

By: Write Way Designs, I

Write Way Designs, I — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:57 +0000

I agree! As they say, "if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem." Everyone needs to take charge!

By: Braydon

Braydon — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:56 +0000

While I am not a high-profile entrepreneur, this post really resonated with me. In the end, it takes willingness and leadership in tough times to make a difference. And if you don't take that leadership, either someone else will, or you will lose. It's definitely not an easy thing to do, but it sure is critical.

By: Tom Hughes

Tom Hughes — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:56 +0000

Hear, here. The economy binged on the empty calories of financial engineering and "house prices can't go down" thinking. While that's being sweated out, the resources to build the next great businesses will be affordable.

By: steve_irel49311

steve_irel49311 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:56 +0000

During each down-swing the most recent batch of "new comers", sweater vests et all all seem to disappear to some secret place. This reduces noise across all channels making it easier for capable people with good ideas to have intelligent conversations. Entrepreneurs that are passionate and resourceful do better in this environment because they don't need to "run and shout" to be heard.

It's also a great opportunity to focus inside yourself and your company instead of out at your industry (where there's really nothing to look at). Now you have time to slow down a bit to take your customers out for a drink and wife to a movie.

Now is the best time to get together with cool people, think, experiment and develop. When things pick up then it's time to sell and grow. What are you doing today to be first in line at the next party (hint-hint)?

– An addicted Entrepreneur