Keep an Open Mind In 2016

In 1975 a young engineer named Steve Sasson, working for the Kodak company invented the first digital camera.

When he pitched his invention to Kodak upper management they replied with, “…that’s cute—but don’t tell anyone about it.” The New York Times (5/2/2008)

For the next few decades, Kodak continued to ignore the technological shifts in our culture.

The arrogance of long-standing leadership stemmed from years of sitting comfortably as film camera capitalists, pulling in millions of dollars. Every year that passed, the writing on the wall was becoming more and more clear.

Unfortunately, they dug in for too long and by the time they were willing to change, it was too late.

In January 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy.

Kodak’s Confidence & Collapse

Now business leaders are capitalizing on Kodak’s blind confidence and eventual decline.

Top business professors from Yale, Harvard and other schools, are using Kodak’s confidence and collapse as case studies; teaching budding executives and entrepreneurs what not to do:

• Don’t ignore culture.
• Don’t ignore new ideas.
• Don’t ignore different perspectives.

If only Kodak’s top-level leadership had of read James 4.

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:13-17)

People Change, So Plans Change

This past week, we rang in the New Year and began our journey into 2016. Maybe you made some resolutions, commitments or perhaps some big plans for this coming year.

Let’s just make sure that we’re holding on to these planned out predictions with open hands. Let’s not clench 2016 so tightly that we leave little to no room for God to make His adjustments. Who knows what great things He may have in store for us?

Maybe even some new “cute” invention that will never fly…or will it?

Can I Get Your Feedback?

How are you planning for 2016? How confident are you that your plans will come to pass?