Mar 17 2009
Re-inventing the Wheel
Don’t re-invent the wheel we’re told. This is wise advice from people we trust who should know what they’re talking about, but, is this a true statement or just a clever saying?
When people say this, what they really may be trying to do is avoid learning anything new. New products tend to be different enough to warrant jumping on the learning curve to understand them. Change is scary, and being forced to do something different leads to unpredictable results which make people uncomfortable. So, keep the wheel the way it is and we’re all happy.
Businesses also don’t like people enhancing wheels. The reason: competition! Re-invented wheels may be better than the ones they produce, which may lead to potential customers buying the new product and not their own. One job of a sales rep is to keep people from considering other products, even if they’re better.
Innovation in science and technology is caused by people not satisfied with what they have now. The product doesn’t fully meet their needs and most businesses have their own ideas which direction to go without the input from their customers. It’s also difficult making major changes and enhancements to an existing product. Besides, we have not reached the limits of technology and there is almost always a better way to do things.
So wheels will keep being re-invented.