I've been away from this blog for a while, and waiting for the right opportunity to get back into it. And tonight, as I was whooping and hollering as Juan Martin del Potro mauled Roger Federer in the 5th set, I realized I had my headine and my meme.
For those not glued to CBS tonight, let me set the stage: Roger Federer, the best tennis athlete of all time, was on the "Federer Express" to a 6th straight US Open title. Smart money was on him, and I don't think anyone really thought del Potro could pull it off. Heck, del Potro had never won a Grand Slam, and had just come off a heady win over Nadal.
But no one told del Potro to stay home. No one told him he couldn't do it. And if anyone told him that, he ignored it. Because he showed up, and after an early case of nerves, he stood up and dished out forehands that the best in the world couldn't handle. He hit serves that Roger just didn't know what to do with. In short, he played his game, executed well, and stunned both Federer and the tennis world. Did Roger lose or did del Potro win? In the trophy case, it's the same thing. Del Potro has the cup and Roger doesn't.
And I'm here to blog that this is EXACTLY what innovation and entrepreneurship is all about. Shortly I'm going to blog about our latest company (it's actually 18 months old now, but it's time to take the wrapper off). About why we think we can beat the big brands and earn a place on the big stage. We think we have the will to win, and we hope we can catch them at a moment and time when we can beat them.
The world is full of people who know better. People who are ready to concede victory to the existing champion. To the one with the proven history. I'm here to say that it just takes a handful (maybe even just one) who believe enough in themselves enough to say "I can beat him." The right day, the right circumstances, the right preparation, and sometimes the upset happens.
It's the way of the US Open in 2009 and I think it's always the way of innovation and entrepreneurship. It's always challenger vs. champion. Netscape vs. Microsoft; Google vs. the Big 4 search engines (remember them?); David vs. Goliath.
Go forth and challenge the incumbents and past champions! For as the US Open shows, they can be beaten no matter what anyone says or thinks!
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