When Status Symbols Become Paperweights: Why Pre-Disrupting Your Business Is Essential
I want to start the first post of 2022 with a reflection that I think all business leaders know, but few actively work on every day (or every week!) Tomorrow, January 4th, 2022, is the official end to the traditional Blackberry. After the 4th, you won’t be able to call, text, search, or anything other than using it as a paperweight. Now my point isn’t that business leaders should stop using their Blackberry. Rather, they should reflect on how a once-powerful brand, device, and status symbol has been transformed into a cautionary tale that can double as a paperweight.
To be fair, there are numerous devices that were once highly coveted and have now become paperweights in their own right. Think Motorola Phones, Palm Pilot, portable tape and CD players, iPods, fax machines, and the list goes on. Some companies like Apple were able to transition their iPods rather seamlessly into their iPhones, and the company has gone on to be one of the true business success stories. While others have gone entirely out of business or are small shells of what they once were. The natural question is how can a business leader think more like Apple and less like everyone else?
I’ve found the best solution is to apply the Alpha, Beta, Omega Method (ABO) to every business and track the insights weekly. In the simplest of terms, ABO for in the following way:
Beta is the current business.
Alpha is the next iteration of the current business.
Omega is the disruptor of the current business.
One of the key benefits of operating an ABO method is how it changes the thinking of everyone in the organization and the insights that arise from within the ranks. Dedicated Omega Teams are constantly looking for ways to push the boundaries of the business, industry, and often times develop clear transitions into new industries and businesses.
Contact Us to learn more about the Alpha, Beta, Omega Method and how it would benefit your business.
Christopher Sanchez & Co. is your business performance partner. We help clients start companies, reframe problems, and uncover asymmetrical advantages by applying our frameworks and methods to three critical areas: crafting the best questions, isolating the most valuable answers, and constructing narratives that break through the noise.
