This week brought a new low in day time programming to America. In case you missed it, mixed in with Days or Our Lives, Oprah and countless Swiffer commercials we had the Secretary of Treasury do his best Emily Litela imitation. And, if that wasn’t enough hilarity, there on the large screen were the heads of the Big Three (plus their Union Leader sidekick) going to Congress with their hats in hand.  It was just riveting, sort of like watching a train wreck in slow motion is riveting if you are not on the train.  Problem is – the last time I looked we were on the train, and worse, the train is being run by the some folks that give us Amtrack.  

You ever have one of those Grinch moments?  You know, the one when you are in a room with a group of people and you find yourself about to shout out “bah, humbug!” or the modern day equivalent?  Ever feel that?  Thought so.  Well, I had one of those moments a few days ago.  And, it’s been rolling around in my mind ever since.

Years ago, back before time began and there were dinosaurs roaming the earth (well maybe not that long ago, unless you ask my kids) I studied political science, particularly the American Presidency.  I learned many things that felt useful and interesting at the time, and, although I didn’t really think about it that way then, was actually studying patterns of entrepreneurship.  Two recent events crystallized this for me. The first was watching President Elect Obama’s first press conference and the second was talking with a friend of mine who had lost a hard fought Congressional election.   

In each instance, I thought about what had made me a supporter or friend, and why I thought that they would ultimately be successful.  And, I realized that what I had really been doing was evaluating them as if they were an entrepreneur I would back.