I’ve heard so many “thought leaders” and “enthusiasts” spout off about what’s good for the industry, what’s needed and what’s not. Well on that premise let us focus on the “Common good” of the industry.

What exactly does “common good” actually mean? It obviously holds various connotations for different people and the true essence of the “meaning” will have great range whether you’re a vendor or hiring company. Let’s make this easy…

What does the “common good” mean to me?
1) drive down industry costs
2) drive efficiencies
3) push innovation
4) pass or simply run over anyone not focusing #1, #2 and #3….

Pretty simple eh? In a perfect world yes, although there is a hitch. (Go figure)

THE Hitch.. Hiring companies are perpetually asking for more innovation to help them in continuing to achieve the first 3 points, although when approached with new methods, programs, and/or technologies are ever-slow to adopt.

Why are companies slow to adopt? Because many vendors are simply not innovating rather they are hanging onto old business models and afraid to change while rushing to repackage the same old deliverable and hoping their revenue streams don’t dry up.

What will help adoption and kick the hitch? The answer is simple, create to fill “the need“. Vendors should research and truly understanding what the industry needs, (imagine that) not the perception of what the industry needs. On many occasions I have witnessed vendors positioning their wares based solely on a variety of perceived needs which didn’t exist in the real world. Plus many vendors, old-timers in the space, bring meaningless bells and whistles to the table all in the name of INNOVATION and “what companies really need“, while behind the scenes the meaningless fluff is provided to bulk up and justify new and higher rates.. Not the common good!

So, passing off the same old wares with a fresh coat of paint won’t work anymore and, in my mind, doesn’t embody my ideal of the common good. Furthermore, hiring companies will move faster if they aren’t always looking to avoid the next vendor shell game.

Unfortunately vendors who aren’t innovating will continue to pass off their old wares with “NEW and IMPROVED” stickers attached, while the REAL INNOVATORS will have to continue getting better at separating themselves from the shysters.

So when someone refers to the “common good” or “evolving the industry” ask them what they’ve done to contribute. They’ll either have a fascinating story which will make it well-worth listening or a load of NEW and IMPROVED B.S.

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