In tight times, we can become hyper-diligent about working to uncover more and more operational efficiencies. That can be a good thing -- unless we become myopic. When we are able to see ONLY that which is in front of us, we can unintentionally get ourselves and our companies off track.

Take the home networking market, for example. It has the potential to be a lucrative business for sure. But when looking at the strategy employed by Geek Squad or others, they get involved a bit too late for my liking. In most cases, they wave their magic networking wand AFTER the house is built, after the Great Room is added. That’s a big missed opportunity in my book.

Let me expand on this theme a bit with a story a colleague shared with me. A short time ago, he visited a custom home community to see what was being done with the FTTH his team recently installed. As he and the developer talked, he realized the developer had absolutely no plans to leverage the bandwidth created by the fiber. No plans to wire the house for broadband wireless networking, smart appliances, security, or any other miracles associated with high bandwidth, FTTH.

That’s the problem with tough economic times. We bear down and put our nose to the proverbial grindstone. We become so entrenched in our own business that we don’t look up and out. We just hope to survive the present.

IF we stepped outside of our comfort zone, maybe things could turn around quicker. In the case above, wouldn’t it be smart for both developer and telecom provider to create strategic partnerships with the Lowes or Home Depots of the world? That way, all involved could help each other capture this home networking market and leverage it for all it’s worth!

That kind of boundary jumping requires guts. But, we all know passionate exploration is the cornerstone of new ideas that can turn into profits for our companies. We have to take calculated risks to win in this economy. Why not take those risks with other industries that have as much to lose  -- or gain -- as we do?

Why don’t you be the first to cross a boundary and get some dialog started with those OUTSIDE of our market? Let’s be honest: we could all use a little adrenaline rush right now.

What is your experience with this? Tell your fellow readers now!