January 13, 2005
there is no horizontal option
A business is either growing, or it's dying.
The conversation is either geting smarter, or getting dumber.
There is no Horizontal Option.
[UPDATE:] Just added this post to The Hughtrain.
Posted by hugh macleod at January 13, 2005 1:22 PM | TrackBackOK. What's growth ?
Growth = more or Growth = better / smarter ??
Every company has their own definition...
Posted by: hugh macleod at January 13, 2005 2:00 PMhorizontal growth might = spreading the word, but it's still growth, sometimes dying is part of growing too. Old ideas slough off, things go dormant, new ideas are injected. Sometimes simpler is better than smarter, or that may be part of your definition already.
Peace out!
wat happened to stability and consistency? no longer a necessity?
Posted by: Anand at January 13, 2005 6:43 PMYou can be stable and consistant but still grow.
Posted by: Darryl at January 13, 2005 7:04 PMyeah, stability and consistancy = boring!
Well maybe not but sometimes.
One must be open to new ideas lest one stagnate. But the drive to grow must remain energized therein lies the consistancy, the stability comes from having a goal in mind, right?
I like this thread because it has universal implications.
Far out!
Too easy Hugh.
Too, what I call, "cocktail party deep."
And... too linear.
Can a conversation get dumber in order to get smarter? (Let's try [insert stupid ass idea here]!)
Can a business die in order to grow? Or be dying and growing at the same time?
These are *not* inconsequential questions, and simplistic attitudes like: if you're not growin' you're dyin' can lead to HORRIBLE business decisions.
Check this article on Obliquity by John Kay... http://johnkay.com/strategy/317 to get a more eloquent statement of what I'm trying to say.