During the past few years as we’ve experienced a downturn in our economy, I’ve noticed many of the business owners I work with have become so conservative it is beginning to hurt their industry. The current economic conditions have caused consumers to spend less, banks to no longer lend, card issuers to reduce credit lines and have left many feeling like it’s time to curl up in a hole and wait for winter to end.

I can’t help but wonder if we’ve lost sight of what has made us successful in the first place.  The past few weeks as I’ve watched some of the Olympic competition in Vancouver I’ve been inspired by athletes willing to take risks in order to win.  Most notably, I’ve been impressed by USA skier Lindsay Vonn, who despite injuries in her career and, most recently, a painful shin injury, pushed thru her pain to ski toward a gold medal.

As business owners we need to recognize that, like Olympians, our profession is filled with risk, but if we move forward with confidence and energy we will rise above our competition and find success!