Steve Case: Confidence Is Silicon Valley's Most Powerful Advantage

Faith in your abilities is the real fuel for any business.

learn more about Linda Lacina

By Linda Lacina

Bloomberg | Getty Images
Steve Case

I began my journey with the Rise of the Rest tour, a road trip designed to celebrate entrepreneurship across the U.S., in Omaha, Neb. I soon discovered that despite the struggles, entrepreneurs can succeed anywhere; they just need to know where to look and have confidence in their abilities.

When I landed in Omaha, I wasn't sure what I'd encounter when I called a ride to my hotel. It's getting trickier to call an Uber or Lyft at some airports, so I'd prepared myself for the worst. But since Uber drivers in this city can operate at the airport the process was simple and painless.

While I was impressed, my driver wasn't. Soon enough he found out why I'd come to Omaha and wasted no time telling me that the city hadn't done enough for him, that he was trying to build a business and had no support.

Related: Steve Case on Opportunity Outside Silicon Valley: 'There's Still Work to Be Done'

I felt for him, but knew that resources surrounded him. In fact, the very next day, I visited a makerspace in Lincoln, Neb. equipped with everything from kilns and quilting machines to 3-D printers. I met a startup called Hudle that helps athletes improve their performance -- and one that's proven it's possible for a Nebraska company to snag more than $70 million in funding. These people were engaged and excited.

I was reminded of my Uber driver on my visit to Albuquerque. This was the first city where believing change was possible would be one of the most important barriers to real growth. There's great innovation there, and I met people working on new technologies for producing clean water, along with those looking to make fuel cell technologies scalable.

But there are struggles, too. The city ranks nearly last in child well-being and one in five struggle with hunger. More often than not, educated professionals are leaving, not staying, in the state.

Some of the most notable innovators could have built in this city but didn't. Microsoft was actually founded here -- but pulled up stakes for Seattle.

But it takes faith, determination and hard work -- to stay out of a negative feedback loop and believe a risk is worth taking. "People complain," says Lisa Adkins, COO of the BioScience Center, the state's only bioscience incubator and accelerator. "But I tell them I'm here. I'm committed."

Related: Join Entrepreneur on the Road This Week With Steve Case's 'Rise of the Rest'

When it comes to confidence, some cities and entrepreneurs have much to learn from Silicon Valley. That's not a place for the humble or unsure. "Do you focus on the negatives or the positives? This is where Silicon Valley really does lead the way. They are endlessly fearless," says Steve Case, AOL co-founder and creator of the Rise of the Rest tour.

That confidence is essential to having the stamina to overcoming entrepreneurship's hard road -- and inspire a team to follow you. Adds Case, "Imagine: What if it did work? Imagine, if, instead of sitting on the sidelines skeptically thinking "I don't know' you leaned in and tried to help."

Cities can build makerspaces and research labs, and officials can craft policy changes and tax laws, but that's never enough to grow a business or a city. The most critical tool is confidence, and without that, nothing is possible.
Linda Lacina

Entrepreneur Staff

Linda Lacina is the former managing editor at Entrepreneur.com. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, Dow Jones MarketWatch and Family Circle. Email her at llacina@entrepreneur.com. Follow her at @lindalacina on Twitter. 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

This 61-Year-Old Grandma Who Made $35,000 in the Medical Field Now Earns 7 Figures in Retirement
A 'Quiet Promotion' Will Cost You a Lot — Use This Expert's 4-Step Strategy to Avoid It
3 Red Flags on Your LinkedIn Profile That Scare Clients Away
'Everyone Is Freaking Out.' What's Going On With Silicon Valley Bank? Federal Government Takes Control.
Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

Living

21 Productive Things to Do During Your Commute

How to use this frustrating "wasted time" to get smarter, more focused and re-energized.

Business News

Amtrak Introduces 'Night Owl' Prices With Some Routes As Low As $5

The new discounts apply to some rides between Washington D.C. and New York City.

Business News

Carnival Cruise Wants Passengers to Have Fun in the Sun — But Do This, and You'll Get Burned With a New $500 Fee

The cruise line's updated contract follows a spate of unruly guest behavior across the tourism industry.

Leadership

Don't Neglect This One Crucial Step of Leading Through Constant Change

Investing in the skills necessary to guide employees through change effectively will have a powerful impact on long-term company morale.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.