This idea is so dumb that it might be worse than a freshman mistake. It's school yard antics to threaten to take your ball and go home if others will not give you your way. However, this group of republicans were all exceedingly wealthy and are very accustomed to having their way, so they may be blind to the reality of their situation and no one close to them is willing to point out how off beat they are.

I say off beat not out of disrespect for their principals or their issues, although mine may differ, but because a recent poll indicated that the top three issues American are concerned about are 1) the economy, 2) health care, and 3) the war in Iraq. Four, five and six were not on the table at this weeks conference either. If you are even remotely considering running a third party candidate what chance do you have if you are not going to focus on the top issues in the minds of the voters? Hillary Clinton is starting to look more presidential all the time from her expanding lead (if you believe the polls) among the Democratic candidates. Clearly any conservative third party candidate just hands her victory on a silver platter. Can you say Ralph Nader. He more than anyone else gave Bush the White House.

So why is this relevant to business:

• You must keep your eye on the prize and stay focused. If disgruntled Republicans start a third party than billions of dollars are being wasted because the election will be all about the democratic candidate.
• Life is full of compromise and no likes all their choices, sometimes none of them. In business you must make decisions based on your highest probability for success and move on.
• A delayed action is often the same as no action and may cause you to lose market share or your reputation. It is too late to start thinking about a third party or new candidates. The people that wanted to run, could get some financial support and thought they had even a remote chance to win are in the race. Holding off support weakens all of them.

USC and disgruntled Republicans better get their acts together fast and both better understand how important it is to act as a focused team if they want to enjoy the fall season, this one and next -- and stop making freshman mistakes.

To find potential opportunities and verify my track record read Chasing Value or Serious Money.

Sheldon Liber is the CEO of a small private investment company and the principal for design and research at an architecture & planning firm. He is on the advisory board of Internet start-up CircleBuilder.com.