Recently I was reading an Op-Ed Column in the NY Times from Thomas Friedman. The article was on the education system in the United States but he had several points that I think are relevant to business today and the state of our industry. He is speaking of the education system but I am applying the same concept to individuals and organizations on how best to succeed now and in the future. I have paraphrased and slightly altered one of his paragraphs from this article to drive home the point.

According to Friedman, those people and companies that were used to just showing up and having business handed to them were the first to go because with the downturn in the economy, that flow of business just isn’t there or isn’t the same. But those who have the ability to imagine: new services, new opportunities, new ways to be more efficient and new ways to sell more are retaining business and opportunities. They are the new Untouchables.   The new Untouchables will soon move themselves and their organizations forward at a ten fold pace and if you are not an Untouchable already,  you will have one heck of a job trying to catch-up.

With his “Back to Basics” style, my father used to tell me that my ability to get up, leave the cave and kill something —  is my ability to survive. Never let someone else control your ability to survive. The world has changed and continues to change. The pace of our world has quickened.

As you read the above and let it soak in, ask your self this question: Are you an Untouchable or are you still doing things the same way your boss did them seven years ago?  Being critical and answering this self-assessing question is important. The answer will determine if you already are or if you are going to be an Untouchable. Catching-up with an Untouchable is lots harder than you think.