How have you transformed to adapt to the changing world?
I had the fortune of hearing Xerox CEO Ursula Burns in an NPR interview this morning: “If You Don’t Transform, You’re Stuck.” Burns saved Xerox from failure and irrelevance by transforming the company. Not only is Xerox surviving, it’s thriving.
Xerox is an example of what applies to every company, ever: “what got you here won’t get you there.” That is to say, the things that brought you (and your company) success until now are not the things that will bring you success in the future. In the case of Xerox, it was paper; now it’s digital logistics services.
What made you successful in the past? Don’t assume that will continue to do so. In fact, I challenge you to question whether it will.
The lesson here is to not rest on the laurels of your success. The momentum that propelled you last year can become an albatross.
Transformation isn’t a one-time thing: you have to keep adapting. How are you transforming now to adapt to the changing world?