Entrepreneur’s Don’t Let Bad Press Stop Them

by J. Jennings Moss, Editor, Business Journal Online
July 12, 2012 | 12:36pm EDT
Last Modified: July 12, 2012 | 5:21pm EDT
One of the greatest traits among entrepreneurs is their ability to completely ignore doom-and-gloom headlines. They’re like MAD magazine’s Alfred E. Newman, famous for his “what, me worry?” approach to life.

I’ve been to countless events for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and startups over the last three years, and rarely have I heard any grumbling or pessimism about the economic climate. They’re much more about opportunities out there today and the potential for growth tomorrow than they are about the prospect of bad times ahead.

That attitude strikes me after a check-in at CNBC.com this morning. Topping the business-news site is a story from the New York Times with a headline that sort of makes you want to hit a bar somewhere: Fiscal Cliff Starts to Hit Growth: US Economy ‘Is On Death Row’.

Here’s the story’s lead:

With the economy having slowed in recent weeks, business leaders and policy makers are growing concerned that the tax increases and government spending cuts set to take effect at year’s end have already begun to cause companies to hold back on hiring and investments.

Economists say the magnitude of the effect remains unclear and the fiscal uncertainty is probably not the economy’s main problem, but is instead one of several factors—along with Europe’s troubles, the spike in oil prices this spring and a continuing hangover from the housing bubble—restraining growth.
Hopefully, the men and women coming up with ideas for the next brilliant business won’t be paying much attention to that Sturm und Drang. Or maybe they’ll be reading through the bad news, eying openings for moneymaking opportunities. Because for those with a true entrepreneurial spirit, sitting still and waiting for economic calamity just isn’t an option.