There’s only one letter difference between the words “evolution” and “revolution” but there’s a whole world of difference – yet many businesses fail to see it (or ignore it altogether).
When something grows naturally, it’s an evolution. When something grows through a huge dose of innovation and forced change, it’s (usually) a revolution.
Look at some of the biggest changes in the last few years.
James Dyson looked at vacuum cleaners, and how poor filtration and dust-filled bags meant your carpet or floor was never fully clean. Not only that, your health could suffer because of sinuses and allergies.
So he created the self-named Dyson, a bagless vacuum cleaner that worked on cyclone power. Sales went ballistic, and the way we looked at vacuum cleaning changed overnight. That was revolution.
Or look at the Flip video camera. Taking the functionality of video cameras priced at 2-3 times more, the Flip turned a static industry into one that a generation of YouTubers flocked to. Now you could buy a high-definition video camera for under $200 – a major drop in price.
But the Flip wasn’t revolutionary – it merely evolved what was already there.
Look at your life. Personally or professionally – both tie into each other anyway, so you can look at both. How are you evolving?
How are you taking what you learn and evolving what you’re doing? How are you using the time you have to fill the time you have left? Are you using it, or are you abusing it?
We all have a limited shelf life – there are a ton of things we can do to make it as fulfilling as we want it to be. For yourself, you could:
- Write a book. It’s said everyone has at least one great book in them – are you writing yours? It doesn’t matter if you’re not a great writer – there are a ton of resources and people available that can make you better.
- Achieve your business goals. A lot of people say that to really be happy in business, you need to own your own. Not necessarily – you can make your business your career at a company. Look at where you want to be in 1, 2, 5 and 10 years, and look at what you need to do to get there. Then keep pushing yourself to do so.
- Be loved and love back. You don’t have to be married or in a relationship to love and be loved – you can do anything to meet your love quota. Help with a charity; have a pet; be a schoolteacher; volunteer at a food bank. You have the opportunity to offer love in so many ways without ever being with another person – are you using it?
Evolution and revolution are two words. In business, we often have the chance to use either, or both. In life, we pretty much only have the chance to use one.
Two words. One letter difference, but a world apart.
How will your evolution be told?
image: lamont_cranston
