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Balance or the Big Bang?

Guest post by: Rebel Brown

Article Overview: I like to swing for the fence as much as anyone. For me, the key to winning with big change or innovation is to make the Big Shifts the exception rather than the rule. An exception that kicks into overdrive when the time and the opportunity is right, not as a standard business practice.

Balance or the Big Bang?

I wrote a post last week about the importance ofcontinuous and conscious innovation, and the four ways we kill innovation before we ever start. There was some discussion on Facebook about the article - pointing out that Big Bang innovation was the key to major industry shifts. In followup - I wanted to explore the concept of Big Bangs versus more balanced approaches.

I'm a believer that Big Bangs are a Big Problem in business. I also believe that change isthemajor requirement for growth. It may sound like I'm conflicted - but I'm not. You see, there is a difference between Revolutionary and Evolutionary change and innovation.

Revolutionary changeshappen when we wait until we have to adapt, until our backs are against the wall and we're fighting for our survival - or we have no other option but to change.

Revolutionary innovationis that big leap - that major new thing. That's really hard to find, moreso today than ever before.

Think about it. Very few companies who focus on Revolution - in change or innovation - are the big market successes we all recognize. I know, you can name a few. But not as many as ten years ago, right? Idobelive that we are due a next big revolution - but I don't believe searching for it is the best path to sustainable growth.

Why? Even with the name Rebel, I see resolution as often disruptive - and disruption rarely has a positive impact on business results.

• Big Bang changeswreak havoc with our growth. We’ve all been there. The signs of problems are all around us. We just ignore them and keep pushing forward, knowing things will get better. One day we wake up and see the crisis and decide to fix things quickly. We head off in a new direction or take a drastically different approach. We change too many things at once and end up disrupting everything. In the worst case, we crash and burn. At a minimum, we confuse the heck out of our customers, our employees and the market. We lose significant momentum and focus, and we wonder why the changes didn't go smoothly. It wasn't a 'change'. It was an explosion.

• Big Bang innovationsare great opportunities. I'm not going to argue with that. But after twenty years in complex B2B markets, I can tell you that Big Bang Innovation is not the best goal to set for your organization. Searching for that big revolutionary innovation can mean you miss a lot of highly profitable and evolutionary opportunities for growth along the way. When we focus on Big disruptive innovations - we can end up holding an empty bag. It's wonderful to have a major new innovation come into our world. But they are few and far between. Even popular innovations like the iPhone and iPad had smaller, predecessor innovations that combined to create them. Neither were big bang innovations.

I believe that anytime we swing for the fence we run the risk of striking out, or worse. It may be a popular cultural trend to Go Big, but consistent, continual evolution usually delivers better results. Except in the occasions when youcanGo Big. In those cases - I say swing big and smack it over the fence!

In the meantime, continuouly looking for a better way to run our business, serve our customers - that's my surefire way to grow.

What do you think? Is the Big Bang the Big Growth opportunity? Is it a blend of the two? Is change an evil to be avoided at all costs? :->

Let's chat about it...

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Article Tags: Big bang, cultural trends, customers, evolutionary opportunity, innovation, innovations, profit, rebel, standard business practice, sustainable growth



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Re: Sources of Cash - Thanks for the help. The items will be recorded in the Balance Sheet. But why does the Balance Sheet always balances. Is there a specific reason
Re: Sources of Cash - Thank you for guidance and direction. Is there a simpler way of understanding the Balance Sheet and all the components that are to be recorded.
Re: Getting *back* to the next step - Take time out to enjoy life, family, friends before you get back to the 'next step'. I know a lot of people can lose focus on the task at hand by taking a break, but balance is key. Balance is integral to maintaining overall success in business and life!
Re: Balance - Make time for things you love - Balance in life is important, and one generally is more productive work wise when they take the occasional break to smell the roses or read a book that has nothing to do with work but is just for enjoyment. A little time spent with the family is also a worthwhile pass time. MichelleJ
Re: Rumor Has It! - goodness a spammmer! Thanks for the post GT, Balance can be and is allusive when you are a struggling Entrepreneur Time management and balance can go out the door when your computer(s) and equipment fail, loss of vital services (online loss of the internet or ISP), weather problems, or problems with suppliers, vendors and even a problem customer, Add to that the mother-in-law problem "why do you get a real job" or loss of support from your spouse, family and friends


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