I just had the most interesting conversation with a friend – a very powerful business person, wise from experience, likely one of the top 100 influential female professionals in the world. Her comment to me?
“Hurry up. The window is closing…”
She was referring to the state of the economy, which she was optimistic about. Her basic point was that for the last year, nearly everyone was whacked upside the head with a two-by-four. No one trusts their instincts right now. They are searching for a savior. They are searching for someone with new ideas, who is positive, motivated, and ready to lead them to a better future.
They are searching for innovators and entrepreneurs. But not for long.
As the economy slowly recovers, even if it moves into a moderate expansion, people will once again discover their egos. They will start buying into their own BS, drinking their homegrown organizational cool-aid. They will start listening to anyone with the loudest megaphone.
People prosper in good economies. New ideas often don’t. I launched my last company just as we were emerging from the last recession, and I am hoping to launch two even more ambitious initiatives this time around (one for profit, one not – can’t wait to tell you about them).
If you have a great idea, now is the time to grab onto it and run as fast as you can. If you feel the urge to lead change in your organization, take the flag while no one wants it. If you want to launch a new company, make your move while customers are still frustrated and yearning for the new.
But hurry up. That window is closing…
