Pinky Extended, He Sipped His Earl Grey . . .

So where lies the difference between early adoption and staking out an arrogantly pretentious position? When is it smart to, risks understood, invest in technology that is not quite proven, and when is it folly that any fool can see through to acquire the latest and greatest simply because you have enough dead presidents in your wallet to buy in?

And, whatever your decision, what is the right time? Will it have what kind of impact on your competitive position? Are your competitors likely to quake in awe, or giggle in amazement?

I'll suggest that the right decision at the right time might be seen by some as showing off. In my mind, it would qualify as falutin'. In the converse, shoving un-necessary tools in the faces of competitors, customers, suppliers, and employees would be foolish, hostile, and, my words, high-falutin'.

The choice and decision are not slam dunks. They require sober analysis, deep looks into the future - of oneself, customers, and social change, especially globally. But, investing in, adopting, integrating, and using the power of keys to the future that others have not yet seen is a platform for success and longevity.

Falutin' is a good thing, and if the industry laggards see it as high-falutin', so be it. They'll have to answer to shareholders as their enterprises near the bottom of the tubes they are going down.