Fountain of Youth

I’ve been thinking about companies pursuing longevity.

Companies are not around forever, though a common view is that permanence is good. That’s why companies build huge headquarter buildings. The reality is that the average life expectancy of all firms is only 12 years. Some [Link to Arie De Geus] attribute mortality to managers focus on the bottom line, rather than human factors.

Greatness is fleeting, friends: places with the highest growth rates have the highest rate of corporate mortality. My company? It’s the exception that proves the rule.

The Five Balls

Marketers are individuals that take energy from life and well being.

Paula Radcliffe trained 250 km per week jumping into ice bath after running, before failing to win the Olympics marathon in 2004. Trying to rationalize her excellence-misfortune, she said that life is about juggling five balls in the air. Health, Family, Friends, Integrity and Career. Career ball is made of rubber, and you can take more risk with it. The others are more fragile. You may throw the career ball higher because if you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four may shatter.

I’m  throwing high the career ball and move to EnginSoft, today. I keep on caring of the other four.