he new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the projec

If you are like me you may have been stuck on how we were ever going to take back the lead in business from those countries that are producing tech-savvy engineers now creating companies that seem to be taking over every industry. This change has caused me a lot of concern; I couldn’t see how we were ever going to become number one again.

I finally realized what was happening and now I am no longer worried.

The advantage those other guys have and the problem we have to over come are really one and the same; like opposite sides of the same coin.

Those fast-rising countries are starting out with nothing in place. There are very few successful business, very few experienced executives and managers, hardly any proven systems, techniques or practices in place, and scores of eager workers willing to apply whatever works best. These businesses are working on a blank sheet of white paper; they are applying new ways of handling data, digesting information, analyzing problems and designing solutions. They have no past to replace, no investment in old systems to consider salvaging, no employees who are fighting change and no management stuck on yesterday’s fast-fading success.

We have all of the old stuff to get around, over, through, or under. We have to prove every change as better and by how much (what’s the annualized ROI?) We have thousands of experienced employees, managers and executives sitting in place convinced that the old way is best.

Not only do these characteristics frustrate the older companies in their quest to join the new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the project

am no longer worried.

The advantage those other guys have and the problem we have to over come are really one and the same; like opposite sides of the same coin.

Those fast-rising countries are starting out with nothing in place. There are very few successful business, very few experienced executives and managers, hardly any proven systems, techniques or practices in place, and scores of eager workers willing to apply whatever works best. These businesses are working on a blank sheet of white paper; they are applying new ways of handling data, digesting information, analyzing problems and designing solutions. They have no past to replace, no investment in old systems to consider salvaging, no employees who are fighting change and no management stuck on yesterday’s fast-fading success.

We have all of the old stuff to get around, over, through, or under. We have to prove every change as better and by how much (what’s the annualized ROI?) We have thousands of experienced employees, managers and executives sitting in place convinced that the old way is best.

Not only do these characteristics frustrate the older companies in their quest to join the new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the projec

cores of eager workers willing to apply whatever works best. These businesses are working on a blank sheet of white paper; they are applying new ways of handling data, digesting information, analyzing problems and designing solutions. They have no past to replace, no investment in old systems to consider salvaging, no employees who are fighting change and no management stuck on yesterday’s fast-fading success.

We have all of the old stuff to get around, over, through, or under. We have to prove every change as better and by how much (what’s the annualized ROI?) We have thousands of experienced employees, managers and executives sitting in place convinced that the old way is best.

Not only do these characteristics frustrate the older companies in their quest to join the new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the projec

ast-fading success.

We have all of the old stuff to get around, over, through, or under. We have to prove every change as better and by how much (what’s the annualized ROI?) We have thousands of experienced employees, managers and executives sitting in place convinced that the old way is best.

Not only do these characteristics frustrate the older companies in their quest to join the new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the projec

he new millennium, they also keep the young folks coming up from really getting their bite at the apple.

That’s why entrepreneurship is such a hot item today. These young people - having found no room at the inn - have gone to work in the stable. And once they set up shop, they bring in every new piece of relatable technology they can find and put all those pieces to work on the projects of their choice.

These up and comers don’t care about ROI, or risk analysis, or source and use of funds spreadsheets; they care about doing things that haven’t been done before. They care about succeeding at what they want to do.

The battles our in-place businesses have faced and are facing are difficult. During the last ten or so years many executives, managers, and employees had to unlearn things in order to give the new things a chance to show what can be done. Some did, others didn’t and they are no longer employed. These battles are not over, but they are getting easier.

Each day more newcomers enter the business world with great dreams, lots of hope and no history to overcome. Each day more old timers, either by choice or directive, move on to their next place in life. Each day the newcomers show the old horses still interested and willing to learn how to do things differently.

Each day more companies turn the technology corner; improve productivity and get back on the road to reclaiming our place as the number one economic engine of the world.

What does this mean to you?

If you are a business owner or a manager, update your skills - constantly. Motivate those who work with you and for you to do the same. To quote Dr. Collin’s from his book “Good to Great”, get the wrong people off the bus, get the right ones on the bus and in the right seats - then let the bus pick the best road for your business to travel.

Yes, I feel better about us than I have in a long time.

The author can be reached at www.b