Are you disrupting or being disrupted?

Morgan Blake wrote “2015 was a year of disruption. In 2015 the world’s largest taxi company owns no taxis (Uber), the largest accommodation provider owns no real estate (Airbnb), the most popular media owner creates no content (Facebook), the largest telecom operator owns no telecom infrastructure (Skype and WeChat), the world’s largest software vendors don’t write the apps (Apple and Google) and the world’s largest movie house owns no cinemas (Netflix).”

This is real, the future, and debates about ‘should it be allowed’ will be just that debates. The reality is, all of these innovators have cleverly found massive markets where a need was not being met. You may argue whatever angle you like, but the numbers don’t lie – these are companies that are a force to be reckoned with.

What is more instructive is what can you learn from these businesses to apply to your own thinking? When you are bogged down in infrastructure investments, acquisition, and development have you stopped long enough to think about the customer experience. And, if you have, and it’s not ‘the kind you fancy’ do you dismiss the idea. The reality is – it’s not about you, its about your customer, visitor, buyer, business partner. Understand what they need, dare to be different and only day your name may appear in lights – even if it is a smaller world with a tighter influence.