Annual Report: Wild, Almost Naive Ambition

Taking the plunge. Photo by Laura Hadden via Flickr.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll expand on each of the items that are to be included in the inaugural “Silicon Prairie Annual Report,” which we’ve described as a “look back at the previous year in the Silicon Prairie region, taking into account such metrics as company formations, product releases and developments, investment and M&A activity, and community building.”

Today, we continue with our series of the “Six Tenets of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem,” focusing on number two, “Wild, Almost Naive Ambition”:

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Culture of Risk Taking
Wild, Almost Naive Ambition
Access to Capital
Big Companies Techies Can Spin Off From
Universities
Vibrant Social Scene

It’s tricky to measure or grade exactly how we’re doing in relation to our community’s “wild, almost naive ambition.” However, I think when you take a step back and look at what we’re doing collectively on the Silicon Prairie, I’m confident saying we’re on the right track.

Art by Hugh MacLeod, titled “Not Delusional,” from gapingvoidgallery.com.

Our community’s drive is strong with pockets of people pushing the envelope and the bounds of what is possible here. They do not listen to those that say it can’t be done here. Instead, they are pushing forward with their ideas and dreams of building a business here, and giving the light of day to something that was just a plan within their own head not too long ago.

I often say it’s important to look at the strengths of what we do have here, and then utilize the networks, relationships and contacts we have to assist us where we need help.

We have key people in the region who serve as conduits, or “human routers,” a phrase Marc Andreessen coined in reference to Ron Conway, one of the startup ecosystem’s legendary investors. The characteristics attributed to a human router include “knowing practically everyone and is hugely helpful in meeting customers, partners, new investors, you name it.”

I would argue there are more people waiting in the wings that have yet to get fully engaged, throw caution to the wind and immerse themselves in the community. If we all fully engage and work to push both our efforts forward, as well as the community’s along with us, it’ll be an amazing year to look back on at this point in 2012.

I leave you with a quote which Andy Stoll shared with me that has been both challenging and encouraging as we head into a new year on the Silicon Prairie.

“Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people.”

– George Bernard Shaw

Now a question for you: How do you, as the Silicon Prairie community, measure and grade our “wild, almost naive ambition?” Please leave your thoughts on benchmark criteria for this tenet, or your thoughts about ambition, in the comments just below.

Also, while you’re at it, take a few minutes and nominate someone for an “Innov8 Award” who you know has served as an example of embarcing this tenant of “wild, almost naive ambition.”