Big companies are in trouble. Or at least, that is what the media wants us to believe. And big companies are the future of the economies of countries. Thousands work at big companies. They will all be hurt by the current economic situation. And yes, I cannot argue with that. But it does trigger a question. Why did these companies get big in the first place? Some of them became big because demand for their products forced them to. Some became big because acquiring extra businesses was the best way to maximalize profits. And some became big because big was fashionable, you just had to be big to be somebody.
With big has come status and the opportunity to play with power. And few people give up power once they have goten their hands on it. Control apparently is the biggest asset someone can have in his life. That is exactly what we have been witnessing over the past months. It might have been better to be smaller. It might have saved jobs, it might have saved a crisis. Or maybe not. But reality is that the bigger the companies the more support is needed now. So where are the small companies? Where are the freelancers? Yes, they might get into some rough times, but ultimately their flexibility will allow them to stand. Especially when the big players learn that small is the new big. If you bring together a group of smaller companies to build something big, they are just as good. They are just as driven to succes and they are just as cost effective. If not more on all these points.
Lets go small. And win.
Seth Godin, Small is the New Big. Great book!
I totally agree with you. Endless growth is driving the economy. But nothing can grow endless.
Big companies have other problems. Identity problems, branding problems, customer intimacy en customer engagement problems. Large overhead and internal politics issues.