Create Your Own Path to Success

?Over 300 years ago, a calf walked through a forest and made a crooked path. Other animals and people followed this path, and over time, it became a well-used road. Even when cities were built, the path stayed twisted. Nobody questioned why it wasn’t straight—they just kept following it because it was already there.

This story teaches us an important lesson: just because something has been done a certain way for a long time doesn’t mean it’s the best way to do it. Many businesses, especially small, single-owner businesses, are stuck in the same "old path" because it worked for them in the past. But in today’s world, where technology is changing fast, staying on the same path can hold businesses back.

The Trap of Sticking to Old Ways

Many small business owners follow old methods because they’ve had success with them before. They think, “Why change something that works?” It’s understandable—when you’ve worked hard to build your business, it’s hard to take risks. However, just because something worked in the past doesn’t mean it will keep working in the future.

Remember Kodak? In 1997, Kodak had 160,000 employees and dominated 85% of the world’s photography. But as mobile cameras emerged, Kodak failed to adapt and went bankrupt. The company that once ruled the photography world disappeared, and so did its jobs.

Kodak’s story isn’t unique. HMT (watches), Dyanora (TVs), Murphy (radios), Nokia (mobiles), Rajdoot (bikes), and Ambassador (cars)—all strong, well-known brands—met the same fate. It wasn’t poor quality that brought them down. They were excellent in their prime.

But here's the reality: Those who cannot change with time, are eventually removed by time.

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Why Some Businesses Don’t Want to Change

Many small business owners don’t want to change because they’ve "tasted" success with their old ways. They think, “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” But the truth is, even if something isn’t broken, it might not be the best way to do things anymore. Technology is moving fast, and businesses that don’t keep up risk getting left behind.

For example, in the past, a small retail shop might have relied on local foot traffic to stay in business. But now, more customers shop online, and if that shop doesn’t adapt by offering online sales, it could lose customers to competitors who do.

Why Change is Necessary

In today’s fast-changing world, businesses that don’t adapt are at risk of falling behind. Think about Blockbuster, the video rental company. Blockbuster was successful for years, but when streaming services like Netflix came along, Blockbuster didn’t change its old business model. As a result, Netflix thrived, and Blockbuster went out of business.

Small business owners often worry about change because they are used to doing things a certain way. They think, “I’ve always done it this way, and it’s worked so far.” But just like the calf path, following the same old road can lead to problems down the line. If you don’t change, new competitors who use new technologies will pass you by, just like Netflix did to Blockbuster.

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Learning from Success Stories

Some companies have shown us that embracing change can lead to great success. Take Microsoft, for example. A few years ago, it looked like Microsoft was losing its place as a leader in the tech world. But the company didn’t stay stuck in its old ways. Instead, it adopted new technologies like cloud computing and AI. Now, Microsoft is once again one of the world’s top companies.

On the other hand, we’ve seen businesses like Blockbuster fail because they didn’t change. Blockbuster didn’t move fast enough to adapt to the new streaming market, and as a result, it disappeared.

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What Can Businesses Do?

If you’re a business owner, now is the time to think about how you can use new technologies and methodologies ?like AI , Industry 4.0 and ?lean ?to grow your business. This doesn’t mean you need to change everything overnight, but it’s important to start thinking about the future.

But remember, ?the above said is not just about making old processes faster. It’s about helping you rethink your entire business and finding better, more efficient ways to operate.

The future of business belongs to those who are willing to step off the old path and explore new possibilities. Lean , Industry 4.0 , AI are ?a powerful tool that can help small business owners improve their operations, find new opportunities, and stay competitive in a changing world.

Don’t be afraid to change. Just because you’ve had success with old methods doesn’t mean they will continue to work in the future. By embracing new technologies and thinking differently, you can set your business on a path to greater success.

The key is to not just follow the path others have taken—but to create your own.

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