Risk Taking in an Uncertain Time

Need a little inspiration in these uncertain times?  Brett Nelson has written a great piece at Forbes titled "The Greatest Risks They Ever Took." 

Here is one of my favorite quotes that hits entrepreneurial risk taking at its most personal level:

"The biggest risk was telling my fiancé one month before our wedding that I was going to quit my high-paying job to gamble on a 'big idea' with my old college roommate,"

So said Michael Chasen, co-founder of Blackboard.  The outcome of this risk?  Their business is now listed on NASDAQ and his fiancé agreed to tie the knot.

Here is what Nelson took away from his interviews he conducted while writing this story:

The best results come to those willing to take a chance--an important reminder for entrepreneurs, financiers and political leaders as the global economy braces for even rougher weather.

Indeed. 

My hat is off to those financiers who did not pursue the short-cuts created by greed.  Our economic system will need their strength more than ever over the coming months.

My hats off to the politicians who did not panic and vote for the soon-to-be ill-fated bailout.  History will show their courage to be well-founded.  I am proud to count my own Representative Marsha Blackburn among this group.

My hat is off to those entrepreneurs who continue to forge ahead in uncertain times -- buying new buildings, adding new staff, investing in increased inventory -- because they are confident in their ventures.  They are the ones who we will rely on to rebuild a strong economy.