Good Enough is Never Enough

Good enough is not your friend. Good enough is a robber of time, excellence and impact. Good has been and will always be the greatest enemy of great. Comfort will be the greatest enemy of invention. Pleasure will destroy prosperity. Consider the case of Blockbuster and Netflix. Blockbuster was the undisputed leader in the video rental industry with its extensive network of stores and reputable customer service. They were comfortable with their position as the top rental provider in the United States. They were so far ahead of everyone, that they ignored a little company called Netflix. Blockbuster completely underestimated Netflix, which had introduced an innovative subscription-based DVD rental model to the market. Nonetheless, Netflix worked quietly in the background, slowly transforming the market by offering and perfecting video streaming services. Meanwhile, Blockbuster’s management remained confident in its position, even as the ground beneath their feet shifted. According to them, they were ahead, they were leaders, they were good enough. Unfortunately, Blockbuster watched in horror as all of their customers slowly migrated to online rentals and streaming, where Netflix was already a force to be reckoned with. When Blockbuster eventually attempted to adjust, it was already too late, and in 2010 the once good enough company filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Netflix continued to grow and today has become an undisputed leader in streaming, production and entertainment. Never get too comfortable with where you are. If you stop running, you start falling behind.