So here’s the deal.  If, in order to explain why you’re doing something, you say “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it,” then you are in trouble.

Case in point: the music industry.  We’ve always sold physical copies and been able to control their copying to our liking.  That’s how we’ll approach digital transmissions.  Result: RIAA as attack dog, proper digital legislation is not around, and the consumers are leaving.

Case in point: the church.  We’ve always done service this way, with these songs, at these times.  Why change to anything else?  Result: churches are losing members and not reaching out to a new generation of believers.

Obviously there is more to both of the points above, and I’m really, really oversimplifying things.

But here’s the point: If we are to survive in a new age, we need to reevaluate our methods.

This is, again, not to say that old methods are bad.  I don’t believe physical copies of music will ever truly dissappear.  There will always be some people (probably like me) who like to have a CD, an album, a whatever of their favorite band.  And churches have always (I think) sung songs together as a group.  They probably always will.  But in order to survive and remain viable, we must always reevaluate the methods to see if they are still optimal.  If you find that your current methods are falling behind, then you must adapt.  There is no other option.  Your choices are change and grow, or remain and die. 

Changing your methods can be hard.  If it wasn’t, we’d all be doing it constantly.  But we cannot end up looking back saying “If only we had changed.”  If we do, we’ll end up trying to sell papers to people who don’t need them anymore because they get the news online.  Or on their iPhone or BlackBerry.  Or on the next cool toy.  If you do successfully change (especially before the rest), you will be prepared for the future.

Just watch out for the next big shift, so you don’t get caught behind the rest!

Posted via web from On Life, Stories, and Music