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":
- 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."
> Nominate an individual for an "Innov8 Award"
See our previous annual report posts: siliconprairienews.com/tags/silicon-prairie-annual-report.
ARCHIVED COMMENTS
Who are these human routers? I don't know anyone who knows "practically everyone", but would sure like to meet them.
I think that's the challenge with human routers. They're not necessarily the flashiest out there or the ones in typical positions of power or the richest person in the room or the ones pounding their fists on the podiums.
But, to really grow the entrep ecosystem, I think they are also another key element (and would add 'strong social fabric & lots of human routers' as #7 on the list of key factors in a strong entrep ecosystem). I think human routers are also harder to create, because the direct financial return of being one in relation to the amount of work it takes (i.e. knowing everyone) isn't always obvious in the short-term, thus it doesn't always encourage the behavior).
@Matt, I think the best 'human router' I know in the Silicon Prairie is the guy who wrote this article (and at the risk of going meta here, he is routing you and I a bit closer together with this article.)
(Jeff, not saying your not flashy).
Enough with human routers.....now onto 'wild ambition.'
I can't quantify 'wild, almost naive ambition' but I will say that the traditional 'Midwestern values,' here in the Silicon Prairie, I think teach us to do just the opposite. This is why local push back to 'innovative' and 'daring' things is often 'we'll that's not how we do it around here' or 'how could we possibly pay for that (excuse)?' or 'let's stick with the tried and true method as we've always done' or 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.' (e.g. street cars in Omaha, high-speed rail in Iowa, a funky public art installation in Council Bluffs, tax incentives for film producing in Nebraska, etc.)
I think what SPN is doing is helping to highlight and expose people that are passionately refusing to let old values dictate new ways and in that act giving the rest of us permission to 'jump out of planes' (figuratively, or so I hear Jeff, literally....)
Um...I nominate myself as most Naive for my idea of the CornFinger. While not having any tech in me or entrepreneurial experience prior to...I was struggling. But when I stumbled on this dumb idea of a hand gesture that resembles an ear of corn...I couldnt help but pursue it (its all I could come up with an I was convinced of its originality). Without this community that we talk about in Omaha...I, in no way, would be where I am today (not that I have blown things up...yet). Even after 2 1/2 years of pursuit I feel like I still do not know nearly enough...but the community, nonetheless, has embrassed me and is actively teaching me...of which I am extremely grateful.
Maybe there should be a contest in our community for who can come up with the "Dumbest Idea of the year...that just might work". Maybe having such a thing would bring out those individuals who are on the fringe...who might be afraid of exposing themselves and their ideas.
On "human routers": critical in any successful organization, meta or otherwise -- the folks that people will trust with novel &/or risky ideas *and* the folks in a position to be able to put idea generators in touch with those that can facilitate ideas. As noted previously, not always a payoff for such folks other than personal satisfaction -- no tricks here, except for organizations to hire the best "human routers" they can find. As for flashy -- matter of style -- at end of the day, it's about getting things done [in this case, via networking].
On "wild ambition": any hard-core goal requires such commitment. However, like being a [non]-flashy human router, it's a matter of style. The most ambitious software engineer I know was also the most straightforward no-nonsense individual I've worked with in many years, as were many others. On other occasions, we really needed a gregarious & vibrant teammate -- but again, at the end of the day, it's about who gets things done [in this case, over the long haul].