Several years ago, futurist Joel Barker wrote a book that he titled Paradigms: the Business of Discovering the Future (HarperBusiness, 1993). His purpose in writing the book was to help explain how to spot what he called paradigm shifts, as well as how they unfold and how to profit from them.
In this book, he shared the story of a major paradigm shift in the watch making industry. From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was first patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades.
Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight.
50,000 of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of digital Swatch watches.
I share this story this week because, like clockwork, New Year’s Day comes around once every year. And when it does, it serves as a subtle reminder that, whether we like it or not, things change. In fact, it has well been said that the only thing that truly remains constant is change itself.
Now, in the face of change, we can do one of two things: we can either dig in our heels and refuse to accept it, or we can embrace the change as inevitable and seek ways to benefit from it. I challenge you, as the year 2015 unfolds, to be open to change. See it as something that can benefit you; and as result, find a way to profit from the experience.
I leave you with this thought from the Old Testament Biblical Prophet Isaiah (chapter 43):
16This is what the Lord says--
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
SOURCE: Joel Barker's books are available as most all online booksellers; or purchased directly from his web site at: http://www.joelbarker.com/.
In this book, he shared the story of a major paradigm shift in the watch making industry. From 1900 to 1967, the Swiss were the leading watchmakers in the world. In 1967, when digital technology was first patented, the Swiss rejected it in favor of the traditional ball bearings, gears, and mainsprings they had been using to make watches for decades.
Unfortunately, however, the world was ready for this advance, and Seiko, a Japanese company, picked up the digital patent and became the leading watch manufacturer in the world almost overnight.
50,000 of the 67,000 Swiss watchmakers went out of business because they refused to embrace this new technology. It was not until years later that the Swiss caught up and regained their position in the marketplace with the creation of digital Swatch watches.
I share this story this week because, like clockwork, New Year’s Day comes around once every year. And when it does, it serves as a subtle reminder that, whether we like it or not, things change. In fact, it has well been said that the only thing that truly remains constant is change itself.
Now, in the face of change, we can do one of two things: we can either dig in our heels and refuse to accept it, or we can embrace the change as inevitable and seek ways to benefit from it. I challenge you, as the year 2015 unfolds, to be open to change. See it as something that can benefit you; and as result, find a way to profit from the experience.
I leave you with this thought from the Old Testament Biblical Prophet Isaiah (chapter 43):
16This is what the Lord says--
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
17who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
18“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
19See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
SOURCE: Joel Barker's books are available as most all online booksellers; or purchased directly from his web site at: http://www.joelbarker.com/.