Gradually, Then Suddenly
Many times, we tend to think our problems emerge out of nowhere.
Suddenly, the growth stops as those sales meetings cease to convert. Or our quality issues become overwhelming as the returns pile up.
The truth is, of course, that that’s not how it works. Our problems emerge, to quote Hemingway, gradually, then suddenly. And the signs are always there.
Some of these signs have to do with the external world - shifting customer preferences, changing technology landscape, significant competitor moves.
Others have to do with us - a lack of direction, waning activity levels, stasis in some form (be it product or people or innovation related).
All of them expect us to pay attention, to take note and to act.
Because the fact of the matter is that there are always signs, and the onus is on us to understand what’s going on - not to what we’d like to have happen, but rather to what’s actually going on.
And then we need to ensure we always act and react. Not to everything. But certainly to the important things.
Keep going.
