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Status Quo: To Keep or Not to Keep

As we start the new year, it's a natural time for reflection and goal setting. For business owners, it's often more than that. It's a crossroads. Do you continue down the familiar path, or do you venture into new territory?

Being happy with your present situation signifies a sense of achievement. And the status quo can be comfortable.

Seeking new challenges can be a way to strengthen your business without undermining your current satisfaction.

Embracing challenges doesn't necessarily mean you’re dissatisfied with where you are--growth and change can coexist with contentment.

Change is not necessarily about being restless -- rather, it's about acknowledging there is always room for learning.

Congratulations if you are happy where you are but know that stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to unexpected and rewards.

I studied Paul Watzlawick at uni. One of his ideas that stuck is "more of the same." The concept challenges our thinking and prompts a deeper, provocative contemplation of our strategic choices.

The Perilous Comfort of "More of the Same"

Watzlawick, writing in the 60s and 70s, was a renowned family therapist, psychologist, communication scholar, and philosopher – he theorised that continuing the same behaviour and expecting different can be likened to a form of insanity.

In a family dynamic it’s where one partner consistently nags and the other habitually withdraws, setting up a repetitive and unhealthy pattern. One partner nags, the other withdraws.

This cycle, leads to a stagnant situation where both are stuck in their respective behaviours, creating a predictable, repeated and unproductive pattern of behaviour.

Too often the parties try harder at doing what does not work. More of the same regrettably brings more of the same. The only way things can change is to interrupt the cycle.

In the business context, this translates to a simple yet profound truth--doing more of what you've always done, even if it once brought success, is unlikely to yield new results. “Doing what you’ve always done will get you what you’ve always got!”

Facing the Harsh Reality of Stagnation

The cost of clinging to the familiar is steep. Markets evolve, consumer preferences shift, technologies advance. In this dynamic landscape, yesterday's winning strategy can quickly become today's recipe for obsolescence. The harsh reality is businesses that fail to adapt, that insist on "more of the same," risk not just stagnation but irrelevance.

Provocative Insights from the Business World

How does this play out in the real world? We see examples, across industries, across hierarchies every day.

Look at how law firms are being revolutionised and confronted by AI.

Consider Company A, a renowned law firm, which clings to its traditional model in the guise of personalised care, cost, quality, and integration issues despite the burgeoning trend of AI. It sticks to traditional methods of practicing law and relies heavily on outdated processes and manual solutions. It stands strong in its anti-AI policy.

Contrast this with Company B, which embraces legal tech, adapting its strategy to changing consumer behaviours. They extensively use legal tech tools for document automation, case management, legal research, and e-discovery. They are learning as fast as they can how to embrace AI.

Each perspective impacts efficiency, competition, customers, and ability to attract new blood as well as philosophy, purpose and mindset. Nick Abrahams writes about this every day.

A Strategic Blueprint for Change

“More of the same” can be a trap. So, how does a business break free? The first step is recognition – acknowledging the need for change. Next is the willingness to experiment, to try new strategies, especially if they fall outside the traditional playbook. The third is doing something about it. Take action.

The Imperative of Change

Watzlawick's concept of "more of the same" serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency of change in business. As we face the new year, the question for me as a business owner is not just whether to change, but how quickly and decisively I can do so.

The future belongs to those who are brave enough to let go of the old and embrace the new. It's not just a choice--it's an imperative for survival and success.

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