Full Speed Ahead? Does a crisis for your competitors mean a golden opportunity for you? Be careful: The answer isn't as simple as you think.

It's 7 a.m., and you're driving to your office when theradio news catches your attention. Big trouble has landed in one ofyour competitors' laps. Maybe its employees have gone on strikeor perhaps a managerial bungle has angered throngs of itscustomers.

"What a pity," you say to yourself with a grin."I guess that creates an opportunity for me now, doesn'tit?" With an espresso shot of adrenaline, you press theclutch, shift into fifth gear and hit the gas--zipping to youroffice with newfound excitement.

But hold on there, Speed Racer, you first need to heed those"dangerous curves ahead" signs you're blowing by.Conversations with a number of entrepreneurs and business expertssuggest you'd better beware: The road blocks that have shutdown your competition's lane may not leave the road completelyopen for you.