There’s been a lot of talk lately about the future of Wisconsin business, both in the media and among the various peanut galleries around the state. What’s my conclusion? There’s a lot to be said.

On one hand, we do have a definite need to sustain our state’s manufacturing background. I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but even CRW’s editorial focus has returned to its roots in placing a greater emphasis on manufacturing in the state. It’s interesting to watch the sparring over “new” manufacturing, and the interest in pursuing green manufacturing possibilities.

But on the flip side, there’s also the argument to move on from there. Our economy is evolving, there’s no doubt about that. As cringe-worthy as it appears, this is shaping up to be a jobless recovery. The question is: How can we create jobs and business? What is that proverbial next step?

There’s room for old and new business in Wisconsin, and there needs to be, but at times the balance seems to totter a bit. I think one of the places we can look for the future is at the Wisconsin businesses that are completely shattering the state’s expectations and the mold of what constitutes a “Wisconsin” business.

This month, we feature one of those companies. I’m guessing that this may be the first time many of you have heard of Rishi Tea. That’s even more reason to turn to page 22 and read about them. By their own self admittance, they’ve kept a decidedly low profile in the state. By my observation, it’s because they’ve been busy at the business of … well, their business.

As a consumer, I’ve known about Rishi Tea since shortly after their inception. As someone who writes about business, I’ve kept an eye on them for an equal amount of time. Josh and Ben are doing so many things right as a Wisconsin business that I think there’s a lot to be learned from their success.

First of all, they’re entrepreneurs. They had a great idea and they ran with it. They learned the business of exporting from the ground up. The path they chose was doubly difficult: Start a business and learn how to export at the same time. One wouldn’t exist without the other.

What I think sets them apart even more is the overwhelming sense of self-reliance in their story. That’s a 21st century mindset if there ever was one. Don’t wait around and expect anyone to do it for you.

I get the sense that Wisconsin is in a bit of a holding pattern. There are new initiatives to grow business, technologies, hubs and regions — and kudos to those efforts — but sometimes the best way to get things done is to just go out and do it. Let’s not sit and discuss it ad nauseam, politicize it or dissect it into oblivion in boardrooms and meetings and even in those proverbial peanut galleries.

(Okay, the peanut galleries can continue talking. I enjoy reading the posted comments on the various state newspaper Web sites while I’m eating lunch.)

Instead, perhaps what we need to do is encourage more people to just go out and do it like Josh and Ben and the people passionate about their products at Rishi Tea.

By Laurie Arendt

Laurie Arendt is editor of CRW. She can be reached at crweditor@crwmag.com