I was scratching my head after the most recent Summit at Stanford for a theme. It was a great conference, marked for many by the preponderance of companies that originated in other countries. There was a dinner for the winners one night, and I don't think it an exaggeration to say that half the people in the room were immigrants or from Europe, Asia, and Central and South America as well as Australia and New Zealand. The CEO pitches were remarkable in the number of companies that are pushing toward profitability and actually discussing next steps—including IPOs!

All in all, it was truly inspirational to be a part of it, which leads me to my theme. To the entrepreneurs here and around the world: You are one of the last and greatest hopes for true capitalism and the American way of life. It sounds like a pretty "out there" statement until we pick up the newspaper, which yields the following gems, just during the time since the conference ended.

1) A CEO fudges on his expenses and resigns amid great unanswered suspicions that far worse conduct ensued to result in his leaving the company. His wounds are salved with an exit package rumored to be between $28 and $40 million. Keep in mind that there has been great debate over how truly productive he has been regarding innovation and real profits. And he was already well-rewarded for his tenure before and during the incident as well. In fact, it is probable that he was set for life with the contract that brought him into the company. I cannot recall that he was ever involved in a startup.

2) A member of Congress stands accused of diverting funds, not paying taxes, and not declaring income as part of a total of 11 or more indictments. He does not waste time denying these actions, and his explanation is that "everyone does it," providing a moral compass argument. Keep in mind that he also worked hard to get "there," and that he has been very well rewarded for his efforts—in fact, again, set for life. As with the CEO, we can debate true production in terms of real legislative vs. parliamentary innovation and accomplishment. Frankly this issue applies to literally every branch of government and every political party! I cannot recall that this member was ever involved in starting a business or even behind any major movement or legislation.

3) A college quarterback becomes the first pick of the NFL draft and receives a contract with $50 million in guaranties, virtually being set for life whatever happens. He played for a major university and was rewarded with a college education and major national TV exposure. And without playing a down in his new environment and with no real proof of efficacy, he is guaranteed more in one shot than most five- to ten-year all-pros playing today will have made in their lifetimes. Ironically, maybe he is the closest thing to an entrepreneur, in that he started a business, built and improved on it over time, and took advantage of the market to get a huge multiple based on the potential upside of his product. But again, much needs to be proven before this kind of investment can truly, if ever, be called sound. And he could be injured and unable to perform, be completely incompetent, or prove to be completely feckless (hello Oakland Raiders). But he still get his money, unlike the reality that waits for most entrepreneurs.

What we've learned here is that entitlement is rewarded well beyond what is produced and already earned. Entitlements of this sort refute not only the basic tenets capitalism, but the America tenet of work hard and get a just reward. Produce a product and get compensated for your goods; but you must keep producing to keep getting paid, and you will have more competition as your reputation grows. Be rewarded on real, not imagined merit and keep working, as we know those rewards can be taken away. No rewards given based on caste class, but on real class.

This is the essence not only of Silicon Valley, but the entire world-wide entrepreneurial movement. This movement is one of the few and maybe the most powerful counterpoints to a world where real power and reward are not accompanied by the requirement to wield it wisely, and rewards need not come about by how productive you are, but how cleverly you can manipulate a system along with your fellow manipulators.

When I saw those CEOs pitching their companies, I saw 24 people who had worked hard to get this point, were aware of how much more work was needed, and who did not see an easy exit based on buying into a system. Some CEOs there were on their seventh company and, rather than sit on their entitlements, were back in the game. Some had companies that had truly arrived and were looking at dominating their space. They were not waiting for it to happen as an entitlement, they were pitching their company and spreading their message.

When I look at Tony and Marc and their company, I see people who realize that every conference is going to require more work and more planning, as the demands for real results and real productivity continue to rise as their reputation grows. When I look at the service providers and investors and, frankly, in the mirror, I see people who realize and accept that they are only as good as their last result, and in whom the need to produce is constant and unrelenting. When I look at Jerry Rice on TV, it becomes clear that to be the greatest at what you do you need the fear of failure along with the promise of a just reward that the entrepreneurial spirit gives if applied correctly.

Like the Lambda Lambda Lambda brothers from Revenge of the Nerds to the "in crowd" on campus and to the folks who reap the benefits of entitlement: There are a lot more of us out there than there are of you. And we are tired of what you represent.

We just need to realize how many of us there are, take pride in who we are, and work together to offset the lack of production endemic to the entitlement crowd, wherever they are. We must make sure we have as many outlets to communicate and share ideas as possible, which is why people like us should attend the AlwaysOn conferences and why they should put them on and frankly expand them to other parts of the country and the world. We must never lose sight of the fact that in any country on Earth, most of what could be called good and truly useful was produced by people who felt no entitlement at all beyond the acknowledgement of an opportunity and the need to turn it into something useful, with the rewards not only being financial but self-actuating.