Pioneering a new path forward only happens when the pioneer actually walks on the path. Over the last few years many organizations have witnessed many changes.
The organizations whose past successes brought them to the door of the future are finding someone changed the locks.
This new generations is much more loyal to the benefits of results then the means to how they achieved these results. In a world where technology advances at the speed of sound, this new generation has options like never before. Innovation and collaboration are changing the means to get what people want quicker than any time in history, and at the same time, can change, or create new markets.
As a baby boomer I remember experiencing technology and innovation for the most part through science fiction movies. Innovation was mostly by accident, small companies and organizations did very little future focusing. Think about the classes we attended in school – the whole focus was on the past, here’s what happen, it happened at this time, and here’s who did it.
We must welcome the younger generation’s creativity, welcome their drive for a better way, and embrace the technologies older generations only dreamed of. The future is closer to the present today, because the younger generation isn’t afraid to constantly seek it out.
“While the past is important to learn from, without balancing the past with exploring the future we live by what was, instead of what could be.” RJS
I recently read an article by Gary Milner, Op-Ed Contributor, July 23, 2016 MediaDailyNews the article was titled “The End Of Advertising, As We Know It” the first line of Gary’s article was this “Eighty-eight percent of Fortune 500 companies that were around in 1955 no longer exist today” what a powerfully message, and warning to those who live in the past. Gary’s article was discussing the advertising world and the changes within that deliverable. Everyone reading this understands the need for staying relevant. Business leaders never say we must remain status quo, they normally say the opposite, although history tells us most organizations fail to react when challenged by innovation.
I wonder today how many organizations histories will follow those of the 1950’s Gary wrote of. We all heard, read the stories, in some cases watched the movies of the great misses or failed opportunities. Stubbornness to modify is what I call the organizations who believe what they do is more valuable then why they do it. All organizations sooner or later find themselves standing at the door to the future hoping they have a key, successful organization don’t find themselves at this door with hope, they force themselves through it with action. Successful companies don’t see just one door to the future they are constantly forcing themselves through these future doors.
The customers of most failed companies, told those companies this.
“The means to get what they wanted was not as important as the result of what they wanted”.
The problem too many companies believe how they deliver is more important then why their customers buy what they deliver. Too many companies are working toward the future they are thinking there is only one door and they are on the right path towards it. When these companies began believing as the successful companies do. The door to the future is not just a door you open once, it’s a door you’re constantly barging through using the keys forged of innovation.
It is innovation, creative energy, and most importantly a pioneering spirit which causes sustainability through market shifts. So next time you find yourself, or your organization at the door to the future. Ask why you found yourself there, instead of pioneering a path towards the future, you allowed the future to present itself to you. When we wait for the future to come then participate, isn’t that really the present.
eanine,
I am glad you enjoyed the article, It sounds like your adventure is moving in the right direction. as far as Nay-Sayers go THE HELL WITH THEM. I learned along time ago the louder others voice their negativity, is a reflection of really yelling at themselves for not having the guts to trust their passions. Anyone one can sit on the sidelines, few have what it takes to give them something to watch. So continue to stay off the sidelines and I wish you the best.
The only reason I can see for waiting for the future to come to you is that being a front runner can be lonely and can even result in ridicule. When I first launched Happiness 1st Institute a little over five years ago I received my share of ridicule from dinosaurs who didn’t understand the business benefits of happiness and were too close-minded to listen to the research. They saw happiness as a fluffy subject instead of one with the potential to provide a competitive advantage and higher employee engagement that makes a significant difference to the bottom line.
Today more executives understand the benefits of happiness but most still don’t understand how to achieve them, especially how to do it in ways that aren’t dose-dependent.
Being ahead of the pack can make you doubt your sanity if you’re not completely sure you’re on the right path.
The good news is that everyone who gets there first seems to experience ridicule so its not personal and at least today they don’t lock you up. Galileo, Semmelweis, Pasteur and many others were ridiculed simply because they got there so far ahead of the rest that they didn’t understand.
It is more fun to discover than to say “why didn’t I think of that”?