According to
research
from a 2017 corporate longevity index, the average life span of S&P 500 companies has dropped from almost 60 years on average in the 1950s to an average now of less than 20 years. The survival rate among small companies looks even worse. The main culprits are, of course, technology with the disruptions its rapid development has caused, as well as unprecedented volatility.
I recently had the honor of attending the 175th Anniversary celebration of Miss Porter’s School, where a high caliber panel of neuroscientists discussed how the mind construes meaning from the arts and ultimately gains joy from the process.
Many established companies struggle immensely with the concept of becoming more agile. On the one hand, they wish to react quickly to unforeseen circumstances by creating innovative opportunities. On the other hand, they fear that their size, level of establishment and need for structure might get in the way – or simply – that chaos will break loose if they even try.