About the Status Quo
“The only thing worse than starting something and failing… is not starting something.”
– Seth Godin
You didn’t start your business to maintain the status quo. You started it because you wanted to make a difference. But now that it’s been up and running for a while and actually making money, you find yourself spinning your wheels. Running in place. Maintaining the status quo. You’re on an even keel and are comfortable, just staying put. You can take a deep breath for a while and not have to work so hard.
Once you had all these ideas for growth, but now you don’t want to risk anything that may have a negative impact on your income stream. After all, it’s a living. You’re doing well. Why gamble with it? Why upset the apple cart?
Let me give you something to think about. Kodak said the same thing. So did Xerox. You can’t rely on yesterday in today’s world. Today’s reality is based on where you want to be tomorrow and what it will take to get you there.
The status quo is never a constant. It changes as people’s needs change. Markets change. Technologies change. When you choose to maintain the status quo, you’re not in ‘neutral.’ You’re actually slipping backwards.
You can’t afford to maintain it. The cost is too high. Time to get yourself back in gear.
When you have an opportunity to grow and take that extra step forward, you’re not going contrary to your original vision. You’re enhancing it. You’re taking it forward into a new reality. Maybe there’s a new product or a new way of doing something that holds promise. It could help you to meet your customer’s needs or even exceed them far better than you do right now. Remember, the a new market has probably grown faster than you have. It may just be too, that with a little foresight, just like Steve Jobs, you can anticipate a product or way of doing things your customers don’t even realize they want until you present it to them.
What are you waiting for? The status quo exists to be challenged.
If you don’t do it, who will? Remember, people’s expectations change. If you don’t start moving soon, you may end up scrambling to keep up with the new normal.
The time to act is now. And, if you still question, ask yourself if you’re as inspired as much now as you were when you had that first great idea.
If the answer is yes, I rest my case.