One of the biggest challenges for businesspeople — and honestly for anyone — is knowing when to let go of what’s always worked.
It’s not just hard because change is uncomfortable. It’s hard because what you’re being asked to let go of is often the very thing that built your success in the first place.
Think about Kodak. In 1975, one of their engineers created the first digital camera prototype. Kodak could have led the digital photography revolution — they invented it. But leadership feared it would cannibalize their lucrative film business, so they shelved the idea. They doubled down on film for years, betting on what had worked for decades.
By the time they fully embraced digital, the market had moved on without them. A brand once synonymous with photography found itself bankrupt and diminished. It’s sad to see a company that once defined an industry fade away, not because it lacked innovation but because it couldn’t loosen its grip on the past.
This isn’t just Kodak’s story — it’s a trap that can catch any of us. The skill, service, or system that makes you successful can also blind you to new realities. You can be so loyal to your original formula that you see change as a threat instead of an opportunity.
The hard truth? Every major leap forward disrupts something you already do well. Survival and growth often require the courage to let go of what’s “always worked” to embrace what will work next.
Don’t let what got you here keep you from what’s next.