It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” The above quote is often attributed to Charles Darwin but in reality is something he did not really say.
However, it is often observed that it is indeed those who adapt quickly are the ones who survive. This is true in all spheres of life.
In the rapidly changing business world, companies need to adapt to changing market needs to be able to stay relevant. We have seen examples of so many marquee brands like Kodak, Blockbuster, to name just two, littered across the dumping grounds of the business world. The message is clear: Innovate or perish.
The same holds true for professionals employed by organizations. Just as companies become irrelevant, so do people. This happens when skills that were earlier prized are no longer needed or have become commoditised. Take a look at the computer maintenance industry. A computer repairer was earlier a highly paid, highly respected professional. However, as the cost of computers came down, computers become more robust and number of computer repairers multiplied, the premium for computer repairers crashed. While the demand for server administrators still exists, the advent of cloud computing threatens this species as well.
How does one survive in such a rapidly changing environment? By adapting to change, mais oui! Companies like IBM have shown us that even elephants can dance. Numerous professionals have shown that it is important to re-invent themselves, learn new skills and venture into new areas to avoid irrelevance. However, as this article title indicates, this post is not about the need to adapt to survive. That is passé. The need today is to change without an external stimulus not just to survive but to thrive.
Why is this so important? In order to be wildly successful, it is important to have a significant head start on others in the field. And here lies the crux of the matter. Quickly adapting to changing market needs does give one an edge. However, the head start obtained by adapting to such change is far less than changing before the market begins to show signs of such a change in needs.
Companies like Apple have shown us that it is indeed possible to change even before the market needs change. The ongoing success of the iPhone shows how such an approach provides a significant head start, so that profits keep rolling in for a long time. In careers too, it is important to try and identify future needs and build competencies well before demand sets in. It is important to keep challenging the status quo. This is easier said than done.
It is indeed difficult to keep changing. It may sound clichéd but change is painful. Why would one want to intentionally want to keep changing unless one is forced to? For this it is important to recognize that change is permanent. Unless one keeps changing, one thing is certain, the market will move on. Changing joyfully before even others have begun thinking about changing, accepting the challenge with enthusiasm rather than being forced to change kicking and screaming, gives not just a head start but immense satisfaction. The satisfaction of having made an impact on the world and the joy of profiting from it.
However, this post does oversimplify the process of changing without external stimulus. Apple did not succeed at its first attempt nor did the Wright brothers. Some never succeeded at all. Such change requires not just a logical approach but (excuse the pun) flights of imagination. It requires bravado, guts and a sense of adventure. The person or organization undertaking such an adventure must be mature enough to understand that the journey is in itself the reward. The lessons of such journeys are never wasted. They can always be re-used over and over again to undertake new flights of imagination.
The question one needs to ask ourselves is this: Can we dare to dream, can we dare to fail, can we dare to succeed…can we dare to change before we are forced to?
(Confidis works at the intersection of business and technology. It provides strategic advice to companies looking to innovate and succeed.)