Beyond web logs

"The reason men oppose progress is not that they hate progress, but that they love inertia."

I've been doing a lot of traveling of late (probably too much), presenting to some very large and diverse groups of conference attendees and corporate clients; from P&G's brand managers, to owners and GM's of television and radio stations, to executives and managers of hotels, retirement homes, rental properties, rep firms and ad agencies.  I typically begin my talks by displaying an image of footprints in the snow, while recounting a powerful, metaphorical story that goes something like this:

"Do you remember when, as a child, you'd wake up to a pristine, snow covered landscape? You'd rush out the door on your way to school, zigging and zagging, pushing and dragging your feet to create a one-of-a-kind path?  And invariably, the next kid in the neighborhood would leave his home and follow your crooked path, kicking away more snow on his way.  And then the next kid, and the next, until eventually there was a well-worn, precisely defined route all the way to school.

Well, that's what happens with your mind as well.  If you think the same thoughts, or preformed the same task over and over again, you will develop a neural pathway in your brain.  Like a dry path in wet snow, it becomes a comfortable route; a path of least resistance.  To remove this habit or old way of thinking takes a focused effort. It requires that you step out of your rut and get your brain wet, cold and uncomfortable."

The audience members typically nod, signaling their understanding.  And then they go right back into their subconscious ruts, rejecting new concepts and rationalizing familiar ones.  Men, and women, love inertia.  And to my way of thinking, inertia is the silent killer of most businesses and, in some cases, entire industries as well.