The Danger of Hubris
I was in a recent meeting with a couple of young business owners who were floating their ideas to a group of ‘old guns’ (me and a couple of others) seeking advice.
Their ideas flowed like that of a fire hose and when we’d attempt to bring them back to the fundamentals behind the business itself, they’d simply deflect by throwing out another idea. Time after time they dismissed our ‘old school thinking’.
That’s because their ideas were sexy, filled with promise and most certainly held a pot of gold at the end of their rainbow. Our focus on fundamentals was boring, passé and so last week. This isn’t unusual because as entrepreneurs, we’ve all been there.
In fact, proving conventional wisdom wrong is our sole reason for existing. However, there’s a fine line between enthusiasm and hubris and your success is dependent on the ability to recognize the difference.
Dwain – The Biker Guy
As always – This is my opinion and I look forward to yours. So, if you disagree or simply want to pile on, please do so either here on the BLOG or email me directly at Navigator@BikersGuidetoBusiness.Com I look forward to hearing from you.
1 Comment
You know Dwain, I think I hear you on this one. As a young entrepreneur myself I find it very easy to dismiss what others have done in light of my "new world thinking". What I fail to realize some times is that it's all been done before. I mean maybe not exactly what I'm doing. But for a long time people have been selling and buying products, providing services, networking, training, sharing dreams. The only difference in mine is how well I am able to do it than people before me. And how would I know what was done before without the insight from industry veterans.
On the flip side, I wish more veterans would take time like you and your colleagues did to offer wisdom and insight into the up and coming generation. I wonder if there isn't an entrepreneurs mentor group out there somewhere where young business people can grab some time from the veterans.