Brooks Lake above Dubois, Wyoming

“It’s beautiful there, but I can make twice that in ________ (enter major metropolitan city of choice).”

We hear statements like this all the time in Wyoming, where recruiting out of state employees (especially in technology) is a difficult task.

It’s not that people don’t see the beauty, it’s that they think they are worth more.  In most cases, their current corporate  salary has them making enough money to “get by” where they’re at, and the thought of a potential “decrease” has them running for home. It’s become my job to help them see what it’s all about. And to get a true feeling for the life-altering power of life “away from it all.”

This weekend, I was fortunate to give the lay-of-the-land to a potential hire who understands what Wyoming has to offer and seems willing to make the change. We took a drive just about an hour from my house to the towering Pinnacles above Brooks Lake near Dubois, Wyoming. We got out, stretched and snapped a few pics with our cell phone cameras (which he promptly posted to Facebook).  It was completely silent, except for the natural sounds of a brisk breeze and the forest that surrounded us. There were no people [I repeat], there were no people in site as far as we could see. Talk about a head-clearing, thought-provoking place, this was it. And there are plenty of these at the end of every road in Wyoming.

As Pitchengine grows, and we begin to build our team, it’s critical to me that we do it selectively. How do we compete for talented people with the likes of New York City or San Francisco? To me, it’s easy. Most of the work has already been done for us. After all, in Wyoming the artwork isn’t on the wall, but on the horizon.

Cooper is happy with the Cowboys' first half performance versus Texas Saturday in Laramie.

Unfortunately, the 2nd half didn’t go well for the Pokes, but it was great to watch the Heisman Trophy hopeful Colt McCoy and his Longhorns do what they do. It was great for fans and good for the University and the state.

We’re a small state in terms of population, but we’re big on work ethic and self reliance. It’s part of the reason I want to raise a family here, and one of the reasons I believe I can build a web startup in one of the least likely places in the nation to do so. Sitting at the game Saturday with my father, my wife and my son, I realized how fortunate I am to be here doing what I am, where I am.

With the tremendous support we’ve received from the blogosphere, the PR industry and eager journalists, I’m certain Pitchengine has a winning game plan for the future. With plenty of plays in our playbook, the next three months are going to be fun.

Thank you, and go Pokes!