There's a sure fire formula for stunted growth. If you follow that formula, your business will grow, but it will only grow so much.
And while its growing, it will always be struggling for funds and customers.
And it's because you chose evolution vs. revolution
First, let's define evolution…
Evolution is pragmatic growth. You get to your computer. You learn a software. And each day, you add to the knowledge. You learn one more tool, and so you move progressively ahead. Revolution, is going to a workshop for seven days back to back, and learning nothing but the software.
Which one, do you think is more conducive to your capabilities? Which one of the two systems above is likely to give you better results?
Let's look at another example. You try to learn a language. You sit at home, and you go through your one hour of ‘Donde esta Santa Claus?' and other Spanish phrases.
You systematically put in one hour a day. And then on the other hand, you decide to chuck up the audio learning and head off for two months to Argentina. Which one will bring more results to your language learning?
Business cannot exist on evolution alone
Hey, there's nothing wrong with evolution, but revolutions are the factor that create dramatic upheavals in your strategy and tactics. Revolutions cause you to get thrown off your overused computer chair, your coffee filled office and thumped right into the smack of battle.
You've figured it out, haven't you?
You can't get involved in a revolution by curling up snugly in your comfort zone. But revolutions aren't just about comfort zone.
They're also about group learning. And group learning, whether it be you in the middle of Buenos Aires with a zillion other Spanish speaking folk, or you in a workshop with half a dozen others like you–is what it's all about. The sudden leap. The intense shake up in the midst of groups, is what really causes revolutions.
You can sit at home and expect change
It will happen. But that's evolution. And hey, there's nothing bad with evolution. In fact, it's the sobering part of your growth. Too much revolution would drive you up the wall. But at least once or twice a year, dip into the heady brew of revolution. Do something in a group. Do something that gets you out of the space you're in. Go and do a workshop or two.
And you'll see dramatic change.
There are lots of reasons why small businesses stay small. And struggle. One of the main reasons is evolution.
Evolution: It's a blessing and a curse.
Personal Experience
Doing workshops in other countries far from New Zealand shakes our very being. It requires weeks of planning. Requires us to plan for things that may come right out of left field.
Why not just sit at home, and do a workshop here in New Zealand? It's called Revolution. It puts us way out of our comfort zone, and creates a bulldozer effect in terms of learning and growth.
I've learned more in one trip, that I could have learned over 5 years, sitting diligently at my computer. That's the difference between evolution and revolution. And scary as it seems, I still drink from the cup of revolution at least once a year. You should too.
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On the other hand evolution is usually safe and sure. Revolutions can fail spectacularly. So I wouldn’t risk the business on a revolutionary innovation – which by definition is uncertain and untried.
Generally (not in all cases), when a revolutionary idea is properly brought to market… the more potential risk, the more potential reward.
The bigger the “IF this happens…” the bigger the payout IF it does happen.
Revolution based businesses are the ones that go big, or blow big IMO.
And oh man, your comfort-zone is eliminated when starting a revolution based business.
Are you sure evolution is safe and sure? I doubt it. I think evolution requires as much effort as revolution—just over a longer period of time. Evolution itself is a revolution of sorts, as evolution rejects that which is useless.
Yes and no. If you question your own terms and redefine them I can’t see how you can attack my response Sean.
I think a dramatic upheaval is less predictable than a small and incremental change – don’t you? It’s riskier to be in a battle than in the office don’t you think? Evolution is pragmatic – as you point out; and so you define safety into the definition.
So here’s an experiment Sean. Walk away from your business and start another one in a completely unrelated field. Attractive – not if your sane. I think the kind of disruption and inconvenience this would cause is quite predictable and to me would be most unattractive.
I usually like your stuff but the ideology of ‘risk is good’ I just find annoying.
Um that’s exactly what I did. I was and am a superb cartoonist. I did that for 15 years. And then started Psychotactics. I did that with my personal life too–moving to NZ. And we do it in every course and workshop. In two days we are having a workshop and over 30% of the content has never been done before. That’s evolution and revolution.
We agree on the “and”.