Changes Rarely Come Suddenly

^Source

If we are sharp observers of life, we see changes rarely come suddenly. Unless there's something disruptive or even cataclysmic that forces us to change over night, we will drag on to the known ways for as long as we can. Even fight to keep them.

Sometimes we do it unconsciously. We just feel more comfortable with the old ways. Or maybe we are not yet prepared to embraced the new thing.

Let others try it first. Why should I?

In a way, early adopters are a combination of courage and craziness. They certainly will be told they are crazy in many cases.

Someone had a "crazy" idea. There are lots of them out there.

A "serious" man's thoughts:

Why would you, a serious person, stand behind this crazy idea and support it into a potential reality and over incredible stumbling blocks?

After all, there are many others they can turn to! They are inviting you to stand on the edge of the gap with them, and take a leap of faith. Right! Let someone else do it, and if it works, maybe you'll join.

Now, here's the early adopter, maybe not even so "serious", in face the same "crazy" idea and the opportunity to take the leap of faith. His answer:

Let's do it!

No, don't think for a second one early adopter will change the mind of the other guy. The early adopter will be catalogued "crazy", like the idea.

Another early adopter is needed to join the uphill battle, and another and another.

Somewhere in this process, a reluctant person knows an early adopter and gets convinced to support the... product. Obviously, they wouldn't just support an idea...

And then another and another.

Somewhere in here, big money early investors jump in to assure their cut of the pie before mass adoption.

At some point everything explodes, and everyone wants in. And that's what we call mass adoption. Obviously, that's the optimistic version. The alternative is a product never gathers enough traction and slowly dies (or addresses to a smaller and smaller niche).

The process presented above has one part that is absolutely essential.

The path to mass adoption begins with early adopters. Without their courage or maybe recklessness, the process doesn't start. Even if the idea is disruptive. Even if a product is built.

Maybe early adopters need to be a little crazy some times, otherwise who will take the first step? After all, everyone else is either pleased with the way things are, or to scared to take the leap of faith before others lead the way.