Once you get started, it’s very easy to get carried away and to be tempted out of your depth. Remember that’s what the hype is all about – getting swept along with the enthusiasm of a market crowd. It’s a human anthropological trait. We all holler out from the stands at a football game in a way we would never do in private.
How risky does this innovation look and what stage is the wave really at? Even if you personally like the look of it, consider whether your current organization really has the cultural appetite and ability to come with you. If not, are you really prepared to swim out alone as a maverick? There may be a lot stake. You might be able to swim that far out and survive on your own until the wave builds up and everyone wants to join. Or you might get cramp and find yourself out in the cold, gulping for air. If you decide to go, consider whether the waters are safe. Maybe you are tough enough to take getting stung a couple of times along the way. But check for sharks – there are people out there so desperate to say anything that will sell their ideas, they might eat you alive.
For an overview of ‘Rules for Riders’ see previous post
