Within reason

Often, someone will riff on a concept or approach that characterizes the revolution that we're living through online, and heads will nod. "Sure, that sounds great [insert idea here... like Free, or social media or permission or ideaviruses or empowered consumers or treating people with respect, etc.] within reason."

It's the last two words that make it a lie.

The last two words allow you to weasel your way into failure. Within reason means, "without bothering the boss, without taking a big risk, without taking the blame if we fail, without alienating our current retailers... be reasonable!"

And so you do it half-heartedly and you fail.

And who beats you?

The people who did it without reason.