I very frequently get the question: ‘What’s going to change in the next 10 years?’ And that is a very interesting question; it’s a very common one.
“I almost never get the question: ‘What’s not going to change in the next 10 years?’ And I submit to you that that second question is actually the more important of the two — because you can build a business strategy around the things that are stable in time…
“In our retail business, we know that customers want low prices, and I know that’s going to be true 10 years from now. They want fast delivery; they want vast selection. It’s impossible to imagine a future 10 years from now where a customer comes up and says, ‘Jeff I love Amazon; I just wish the prices were a little higher,’ [or] ‘I love Amazon; I just wish you’d deliver a little more slowly.’ Impossible.
“And so the effort we put into those things, spinning those things up, we know the energy we put into it today will still be paying off dividends for our customers 10 years from now. When you have something that you know is true, even over the long term, you can afford to put a lot of energy into it.
My take
This got me thinking about what are some timeless principles, in business and in life, that will improve our business and our personal lives. I came up with two principles and those principles are Consistency and Continuous Learning.
- Consistency: Most successful businesses are successful because of their consistency of good customer service and good products. When I go to my favorite coffee shop or restaurant I always get good service and good food and I that’s why I continue going back.
- In Business: Consistency builds trust with customers, clients, and stakeholders. It means delivering on promises, maintaining quality standards, and providing reliable products or services. Getting this right requires adopting the right IT solutions and systems that support customer requirements, no matter which touchpoints they use. It also means maintaining a standard tone of voice, whether communicating via social media, websites, or email marketing. Being familiar seems dull, but it helps almost every company that tries it, building social capital and encouraging sales.
- In Life: Consistency in habits and routines fosters discipline and productivity. By consistently working towards your goals, you build momentum and make steady progress over time. When you are consistent with your word, people trust you and they open every door for you.
- In Jeff Bezos example no one is ever going to ask you to be less consistent.
- Continuous Learning:
- In Business: Staying updated with industry trends, market changes, and emerging technologies is essential for business growth and innovation. Continuous learning enables you to adapt to evolving challenges, seize opportunities, and stay ahead of competitors. It fosters a culture of innovation and creativity within your organization. Right now there is the innovation of AI, and every business that wants to stay relevant has to learn and adapt to this new technology.
- In Life: Lifelong learning expands your knowledge, skills, and perspectives. It enhances personal and professional development, opens up new opportunities, and fosters adaptability in an ever-changing world. Continuous learning also promotes intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and self-improvement. I have made it a point to learn to read and learn something new every day. Right now, I am focusing my energy on building and growing a YouTube channel.
- In the logic of Jeff Bezos, no one is going to ask us to stop learning and improving ourselves.
By embracing consistency and continuous learning, you can cultivate success, resilience, and fulfillment both in your business endeavors and personal life.
What are some lifelong principles that you would like to add to this list.
Other Personal Development Posts