STYLE | Business
OLD AND NEW CAN SIT SIDE BY SIDE
Many reports suggest that 2018 was the most stressful year on record, with 3 out of 4 Britons feeling overwhelmed by stress
T
oday’s increasingly competitive and rapidly changing business world has its part to play in this. Let’s face it, running or working in a business is at times scary, often confusing and
generally more complex than ever before.
As humans we don’t like complex (or scary) and we hate to feel confused. All these factors add to our stress levels – the feeling of not being in control. At times like these, when we’re not sure what is going on or will happen, we crave clear answers and are drawn to outcomes that we see as black and white, a move which often polarises our views and opinions on the best way forward. This also works to cloud our judgement socially, politically and in business. In doing so we all too frequently write off perfectly good ideas, people, products - and at times whole companies – failing to realise or accept that there are shades of great and that old and new can sit side by side.
By taking a moment to step back and gather our own intelligent view, not to simply run with the pack, we can see what others missed and opportunities we can take fuller advantage of; opportunities that others were so quick to write off. We can also take back control, look towards a brighter future and in doing so reduce at least some of the stress.
For example. There is a widely held belief that new replaces old as we move along the evolutionary wave; and that there is no going back. This belief is certainly not new, but it’s not true, either. The cinema did not replace live theatre. Radio did not replace newspapers. Email did not replace the postal system. Digital media did not replace vinyl and e-readers have not replaced printed books.
Yes, many of these had setbacks at the time (and that may be putting it mildly), due to polarised views, opinion and a rush to embrace what is new; something we also do to reflect ourselves as being ‘current’. However, in 2018 West End audiences topped 15 million for the first time, with box office revenues growing for
Dale Howarth is an acclaimed business speaker, mentor and writer; working with individuals and companies to make the business leaders and businesses successes of tomorrow. To find out more visit
www.dalehowarth.com.
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the 14th year running, and cinemas regularly show live theatre broadcast on their screens. Proving that the old and new can happily sit side-by-side. Those that saw this, profited.
New technology has shaped the way music is produced, distributed and consumed. Digital streaming services such as iTunes and Spotify mean that music formats such as CDs have lost some of their shine and value. Surprisingly though, one music format seen as ‘obsolete’ and written-off by many, ‘Vinyl’, continues to make a rapid comeback. As we move into 2019 vinyl sales around the world are expected to again grow, as a new generation of music enthusiast reaches for these long-playing records (LPs) as their preferred music format choice. They are no longer seen as the go-to medium for hipsters and true audiophiles. Start-ups are cashing in on this resurgence, basing their new businesses on the growing popularity of records.
So, as we look towards the year ahead, let’s not write things off so rapidly. Let us be less polarised in our views, not one of the herd. Yes, things change but there are degrees, it’s not always black and white and taking time to step back, regain control and seize the opportunity that change presents can help to reduce at least part of our stress.
By Dale Howarth BUSINESS MENTOR, SPEAKER AND WRITER
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