Does Disruption Rule Your World ? Here is How to Fight Back.

Disruption is such a commonly used word today that it has been upgraded to a “Buzzword”. In fact the mention of disruption in some circles makes people cringe, just because of its heavy usage pertaining to everything around us. Not so much for the businesses that are actually affected by what technology is doing to business today. Here are 5 facts to understand disruption better and to not be disrupted:

1. Disruption has Always Existed

From the earliest times when people became civilized until now, disruption has been a constant. Whether it was through the industrial revolutions or any other way, technology and a new way of doing things always shaped our society. Why then are we so surprised by change today? The reason is that this change is now happening much faster than we could have ever imagined. Because of how technology has evolved over the last 100 years and more so in recent years, we now see faster results to the extent that products get outdated before they even become popular. Did you know that the human genome was fully decoded 9 years after the Internet was invented? The traditional product maturity curve has shortened and hence a rapid change that is shifting and breaking stereotypes is rampant. This is disruption.

2. Make Change a Part of Your Everyday Life

Undoubtedly whether you approach this as an individual, a group or an organization you will need to adjust your base reaction and relationship with change. Making change part of your everyday life is about accepting things that happen and finding a way to work with them. It’s also about being open to accepting the fact that whatever you see around you can be different tomorrow. They say that change is the only constant. Stick that on every wall at your office !

3. To Not be Disrupted Stay Ahead of Change

It’s hard being at the top. One reason being that people and organizations that succeed beyond expectations s that they work relentlessly to be where they are. Being successful should automatically invoke an element of accountability that helps you continue do what you do what you do to the best of your ability and what the situation demands. When you think about disruption and becoming a disruptor or just protecting yourself and your interest, then stay ahead of the change. Do things that nobody is doing and apply ideas and thinking that is well thought and planned and yet ahead in the times. Change favors those who are success focused.

4. Seek Disruptors

Working with others will always help you learn more. When you work or partner with people and organizations that can add capability and skills to your core functions then it’s not just a win but will propel you to be miles ahead of everyone else. Today we live in an era of specialization and unless you stay true to your core message you cannot succeed. Many people and organizations waste valuable time in trying to do everything on their own, which most of the times leads to fatal failures. Learn how to partner and set down expectations clearly. Some of the most successful stories are around partnerships. Do you have trusted partners who push you and help you grow?

5. Put your money where the action is

No literally, put your efforts, and investment of time and finances in execution. Planning the perfect outcome is a great goal and yet we fail short because of execution. As an individual, organization or a group, you will always have a better chance of success through execution rather than endless planning. A majority of people fail because of the lack of action and execution. Can you hold yourself accountable and execute, everyday?

Disruptor or disrupted, change is a constant. In Today’s era where technology and emerging markets are rapidly changing how we live, work and contribute to the world around us and although it is impossible to foretell the future, we can definitely predict tomorrow based on the trends of today. Do what you can with what you have where you are and the paths will open up for you.

Author Bio

Ian Khan — Technology Futurist, Author & Filmmaker

CNN Featured Technology Futurist, Inspirational Realist, Forbes contributor,, 3x TEDx Speaker and Author, Ian Khan is a highly sought after thought leader. An advocate of emerging technologies, Ian helps organizations & people gain a competitive advantage in today’s era of disruption and rapid change through his insightful keynotes, and masterclasses. With an international speaking and masterclass portfolio in Dubai, Sweden, Finland, Germany, United States, Canada and 35 other countries, Ian is an unconventional idea instigator who can help you with adapting to change with his “7 Axioms of Value Creation” methodology.

Ian is also shooting a documentary film “Blockchain City” that captures the growth of Blockchain technology across the world and how various governments and cities plan to use Blockchain to step into the new era of technology.

Learn more about Ian Khan at www.IanKhan.com