I’ve been listening to an audiobook about the American Civil War and recently heard the chapter describing the economic differences between the North and South. The South, which was reluctant to give up the antiquated (not to mention immoral) institution of slavery was behind the curve of the industrial revolution. The North took full advantage of the industrial revolution and were able to out-produce the South in both agriculture and munitions. Plus, the North had a much better infrastructure to move people and goods around.

I’m wondering if there’s a parallel to be seen here regarding today’s large entertainment and telecom organizations. Many of them are holding onto an antiquated business model while the world is changing around them. Those who ride the wave of change will prosper while the old guard will continue to complain about falling revenues and will eventually die. When they do it’ll be their own fault. Sure, there’s risk in anything new. There’s risk in change. But there’s far more risk in refusing to adapt because that leads straight to stagnation and death.