Technological Innovation

are two words that are enough to describe

the times that we are living in today.

The same is powered by entities called - companies.

However,

most companies today, big or small,

are stuck in a cycle.

They are stuck in an endless cycle of "what they do."

They get too caught up in their agenda...

An education app makers' agenda maybe

"make a least intervening learning app for children"

A robot manufacturer's agenda maybe

"manufacture the smartest and most autonomous robots"

Or a new trading platform's,

"make way for educated trading online with the least hassle"

...

and likewise for other companies.

And because they are too caught up

in what they think they are,

they miss the essence of what they are,

and what they could be.

What is that they could be?

They could be much, much, much more.

How?

If they let go of (or even relax) their

"like their life depends on it" grip on their agenda.

And took time to grasp the essence that is powering that agenda.

~~~

Still with me?

No, I do not imply you changing your business model,

or work on something else humane or "altruistic."

I certainly do not imply you firing your employees.

And I most certainly do not imply you boosting

your "health and wellness allowance" for your employees.

I imply just what was stated...

Realize the essence of your company,

and what is really the driving force behind it.

Now before some learned individuals that you have hired

tell you I am pointing towards the "people"

or your "culture" or your "strategies",

I will say,

you are far better off firing those "learned" individuals.

For at best, by keeping them you are performing charity,

and at worst, they are blinding you from the essence.

Why?

Because things like those,

which may appear to be the part and parcel of your company

and its people,

are also born out of your insistence to not see the essence.

Yes.

But do not get me wrong,

I am not saying that your company itself is a goose chase.

What I say is that

the goose chases which has become your company's day-to-day

are there because you put too much emphasis on the thing

or the main "idea" of the company.

I will rephrase.

When the company is about merely an "idea",

there is an over-insistence and almost an attachment

to the idea.

This will give birth to such goose chases,

and other time and energy-draining pursuits,

which then hijack the company.

In such a company,

no matter how much "people and culture" you artificially enforce,

or how much "best" you strive to bring out of them,

the raw talent and essence of the people will not be leveraged.

~~~

I will use another example.

You may have heard of the term - "pivoting".

A step that companies take when they realize

that their product or the "idea" is not marketable,

or that they need to find a better "product-market fit".

Some companies pivot and pivot and pivot.

Some companies do not make it to the first pivot.

What is really happening behind Pivoting?

Many will say "pivoting" is the way.

I will say that pivoting is a sign.

That the company did not have a solid base to take off.

That the company did not realize the essence

of what it wanted to do,

and got too carried away with the thing itself,

heading straight into goose chases.

Yes yes, some companies, do "take-off"

after pivoting many times,

but what is the proof that they really found what they originally wanted

and not just settled for a sub-optimal business model

because of their insistence to "just be a company"?

Do you see what I am challenging here?

If not, I will summarize ...

A company or a thing,

in actuality,

is never about the company or the thing!

Most companies and founders do not realize this,

and they get lost in the games of "idea", "pivot", "series A"

"series X", "product-market fit", and other nonsense.

They get lost and they stay lost.

Their adherence to these "ideals" makes them believe that they are "on track".

Are they "on track"?

Yes, away from what they could be.

Yes, to compete with others "on track".

Yes, to console themselves that they are "on track".

A company, deep down, is about the very essence that,

if understood and arrived at,

will completely unnecessitate the need for such distractions.

Such a company will sail smoothly,

for its course will be plotted not by "plans", "strategies",

and other agendas,

but by its own essence and the resultant vision.

For ideas come and go, but the vision stays.

And it is only an unwavering vision that

can put words like "unicorn" to shame.

Thank you.