Press The Reset Button

Really...it's okay

With the new year in sight, it’s a time to press the refresh button.

The first time I hit ‘reset’ was in college. Dazzled by the promise of a baseball scholarship, I was convinced that I’d play for the L.A. Dodgers.

Never happened. Apparently, that requires skill.

Turns out, it was for the best because the disappointment helped me reassess my life. So, I rebooted and discovered my passion for media and marketing.

Since then, I’ve reinvented myself several times. Some by my choice, others not. Sure, pressing the reset button can be a daunting, scary leap. But change is constant, so we’d better embrace it and keep evolving. As they say in baseball, if you want to get to second base, you gotta take your foot off first.

The same is true for companies. We forget that the first laptop was made by Osborne, the first cell phone was a Motorola and we stayed connected via AOL. They launched, then sat on their hands. Soon, strong competitors swept in and vaporized them.

Then there’s Netflix, who buried Blockbuster Video - but didn’t stop there. While their DVD shipping business thrived, Netflix attacked themselves. They pivoted, scrapped the DVDs and planted their flag as a streaming video company.

Here’s my take. We’re becoming a ‘pivot or perish’ workforce. So, learn to love reinvention. Best to get comfortable with change before the next wave reaches you. There are no gold watches coming. We must constantly adjust course, and sharpen our toolkit - or end up like Osborne.

Remember, Blockbuster had the chance to block Netflix. They had enough resources and clout to evolve beyond renting DVDs. But Netflix gave them a wedgie and Blockbuster collapsed with a whimper.

Thanks for your time, have a wonderful holiday.