I attended a "Future of Life Sciences Innovation in Tech Valley" last night. It was well attended, and I thought the panel provided some very good observations and insights...at least for the time that I was there, as I arrived monstrously late.
Memo to self: Avoid 787 North from Downtown Albany on a weekday at 5 pm.
One phrase which I heard several times is "We need to do _________." We need to develop more entrepreneurs. We need to support policies which are business-friendly. We need to collaborate more with other institutions in the area. We need to attract more venture capital to the area. And it struck me:
Who is "We"?
I think the challenge we all face is not knowing how to "do" what needs to be done, coupled with the natural human assumption that someone else will "do" what needs to be done. It all seems beyond our reach. How can I attract entrepreneurs? How can I encourage more institutional collaborations?
You are "We"
I am "We"
We are "We"
If I feel that there is a need to stimulate development of local entrepreneurs, then I have to think of a way to do it. Maybe I call a serial entrepreneur and ask him/her to speak at a local networking function or at a university. Maybe I offer to teach a class on networking to university faculty (OK, that may be presumptuous). Maybe I set up a company and offer business planning services to university faculty (hmm...not a bad idea...). Maybe I send an email to my local Congressperson (I have, and they/staff do actually respond. It helps to remind them that you voted for him/her last time, and may/many not the next time.)
I must do something...
You must do something...
Napoleon Hill once wrote (from memory): "Start now with the tools you have in hand. Better tools will emerge as you progress."
This is an important point. We cannot wait until conditions are just right...until we have x amount of square footage or y of investable capital or z Nobel Laureates on local faculty.
Do you want to do something? Email me and let's discuss...
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