“And our infrastructure, we haven’t invested in it in the last few decades. Our ports are not big enough, not deep enough, not automated enough,” Petersen says. “Our supply chain became a real grind and a real blocker on economic growth and vitality.” –Ryan Petersen, as quoted by NPR.
“You will pay the price for your lack of vision!” – The Emperor, from Return of the Jedi
It is easy to fault others’ “lack of vision” as the source of all current ills, but it is never that simple. Corporate decisions are always under pressure from shareholder interests and available resources. Uncertainty coupled with fear of negative consequences delays actions.
No one knows the future, so we look for guidelines – including outcomes of past mistakes. Magnificent failures often guide us more than outrageous successes. We look to failed ventures and ask framing questions. Was it worse to invest too much, or too little? Too soon, or too late? Standard or startup? The answer is…there is no right answer. Business is risky no matter what. When investors lose the taste for risk, they stop investing. Everyone else who is still playing the game must continue to invest their time, money, and attention in growth. There is no survival without growth.
Everything in the world around us proves that you are either growing or dying – it is only a question of how quickly you are doing either. Really you are always doing both at the same time. Continuous effort is necessary even to overcome inertia and maintain the status quo.
If the laws of physics change, be sure to let the world know. Until then, you can only coast when you are going downhill.