Today the iconic technology company, IBM, celebrates its 100th birthday. As IBM begins its 101st year as a company, I'm in awe of just how it has survived the ups and downs of economies, world wars, innovation revolutions, product "misses" and leadership changes over the years. Even looking at the technological innovations since 2000, some of the businesses and industries have barely weathered the recent financial storms of the last 10 years, let alone 100.
In fact, it amazes me as I consider the last decade and my experience with the more recent technology revolutions, just how fragile so many technology companies really are. I remember how it could be nerve-wracking living in Silicon Valley as companies emerged from the Internet boom and bust and seeing the investment capital chase different technologies and industries. Watching the result of those investments cycle their way through technologies - as the number of Internet companies shrank, the infrastructure, chip, servers and storage industries took a hit; seeing biotech and social media sites emerge.
I remember such an idealism and faith in Silicon Valley that the next trend would emerge and carry people through. While we remained employed, I was too young and naive to really worry about our long term future then. However, now raising the Kiddo, I think about the next meal, activity, school year, sport season, family trip, all the time!
I'm much more aware of the values, thought processes and foundation that I'm laying for him and the next 100 years. I often consider and assess what skills he'll need to survive the downturns and succeed in 20 years. What do I want to prepare him for 40 years from now?
One key characteristic that I want him to pick up is flexibility. Of course I want him to have integrity, find success doing something he enjoys and fulfills him, yada yada, but I also want him to hone his creative problem solving skills and to set himself up with options. We play one of my favorite games, Connect Four, at least once a week and I've taught him to try to set up ways to connect four in two ways. He's so proud when he points out "look, I'm setting up two ways to win, Mom!" Or when we play chess (yes, we've taught the Kiddo how to play chess, and yes, it's entirely appropriate and easier than you think ;-)), and we talk about the options each move opens up before deciding to move our piece. We even decide our routes around the neighborhood, talking about which way is longest, but still gets us where we want to go and things like that. I wish for him to have the ability to see his options and and assess them, or look to create a new option so he can weather whatever career or lifestyle changes come at him in the next century.
A company surviving the tech revolutions and lifestyle changes as time marches on to reach 100 years of existence is pretty remarkable. Happy 100th Birthday IBM.
Comments