Comfort in The Obvious: Is it Hiding from Reality?
I am noticing that Captain, Obvious is showing up more in the print industry.
During an industry's disruption, innovators learn more about the industry's weakness by what the leaders do not say over what they say.
When leaders discuss only what is comfortably obvious over what is obviously challenging, they are displaying their lack in understanding the obvious challenges.
I recently heard a leader discussing the importance of customer service! Holy Crap! I think a two–year–old who sells lemonade from the stand in their driveway understands the importance of customer service.
I appreciate someone sharing the details of how customer service can be delivered in a disrupted industry undergoing a transition. But. My God! I think everyone in the world knows customer service is essential.
The one-minute videos or the five-word blog content telling people obvious things while you string together adjectives highlighting zero substance will not challenge or motivate anyone.
As an industry becomes more challenged, many of the industry's actors will seek comfort over battles for relevance. However, these temporary hangouts soon dissolve as the realities of progress set in. Remember, being happy does not stop one from becoming obsolete.
So, challenge yourself to seek the discomfort. Look for the obvious challenges, seek knowledge to win against real challenges, and stop pretending that remising is relevant.
Remember, Capt. Obvious will never share what they do not understand, so they will repeat what you know and hope you find comfort pretending you learned something you already knew.
Unfortunately, during an industry's disruption, many are very content seeking what's comfortable over seeking what's relevant, and the innovative disruptors bet heavily on just that.
In Closing:
The pride of an industry will be revealed when it faces its most significant challenges. Some will seek to reward their egos, and some will strive to be rewarded by remaining relevant.
Status quo is the killer of all that will be invented.
Ray Stasieczko
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