A Love Affair with Disruption… or a Shot of Tequila
by John Van Dyke
Looking in the rearview mirror, what was I thinking?
The disruptive business model has finally reached the pinnacle. It cannot go any higher than the new business model of the United States government that is unfolding before us. Soon we may have the opportunity to buy shares in ourselves through creative and inventive use of entitlements and taxpayer money. The ultimate Unicorn investment.
We have cheered the disruptors, embraced their ideas, and rewarded them with money. We also love to catch some of their business or find a place at their table. We love the word, kind of catchy and descriptive of what has been happening the last ten years or more. Technology has reached even the outposts of society, the fringes of our culture. Disruption has obliterated the old ideas of media and journalism. Facebook is defending itself as a reliable media source. Twitter is loved by some for its quick and effective sound bites. Who needs the details or facts?
We have worshiped at the alter of technology for the last decade, lining up for the doors to open at the Apple store to purchase their latest offering. Liking and sharing almost everything on any social media channel. And of course buying apps because they are cool.
Are we caught in the cross-hairs of technology today? — the good, the bad, and the ugly. There is no going back — no matter what is promised. There may be destruction and disruption, but no going back to what was, just a few years ago.
The American people have overwhelmingly embraced disruption. I think a few new players are going to profit greatly, others may prosper, some will pay the price, and perhaps we will have some new Unicorns.
I am preparing for some serious disruption. I am keeping the tequila handy.
I was sitting on the terrace of my amazing beach house in Mexico in January 2017, trying to figure out what our country was doing. Now in November 2020, it is more complicated that ever.
#disruption, #technology, #unicorns, #finance, #media, #voices
