All About Flex: Saying Yes

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

There’s an old Italian phrase used to describe a move that especially daring circus performers do— the salto mortale. It’s a somersault, on a tightrope, without a net. Dare to do this. Be brave. Work without a net. I promise you, you will land on your feet.

For those who say you’re thinking too big…be smart enough not to listen.

For those who say the odds are too small…be dumb enough to give it a shot.

And for those who ask, how can you do that? Look them in the eyes and say, “I will figure it out.”

It’s hard to read these words without feeling motivated to be more aggressive in trying something new. This can obviously cause problems if done carelessly. But not pushing into new areas can be limiting and cause companies to define their product offerings too narrowly. Meanwhile the competition accepts new challenges and develops capabilities.

Risk taking is a double-edged sword. Plunging into deep water has its risks, but so does standing on the shore and never learning to swim. There is risk in taking on a new challenge, a new part number, or a new product. But there is often a bigger risk by not accepting the challenge: You don’t want to be on the sideline when someone else “figures it out.”

Dave Becker is vice president of sales and marketing at All Flex Flexible Circuits LLC.

• < Previous Page