How Small Businesses Invest in Technology Part 3: Business-centric Companies

The Pioneer Spirit Prevails!

For hundreds of years, ordinary people have forged new paths, pioneering ahead of the masses to find new ways—explorers, innovators and entrepreneurs. Every field of study has those special individuals who show us better & brighter ideas. Some of my revered pioneers are a little eclectic: Leonardo da Vinci, Eli Whitney, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Erle Halliburton, Ray Kroc, Ed Malzahn, among many others.

I am proud to say that I’ve had the opportunity to work for companies founded by two of these greats.

If you have ever been in the presence of a true pioneer, you might find that they all share a common trait: unwavering, steadfast passion! Pioneers put themselves in tough situations for the opportunity of something better.

Think about how hard it was for the early pioneers of this great nation. They manually cut and dug their way into a wilderness that was unknown and difficult.

Business pioneers are no different.

At the close this 3-part series, we will be looking at the business-centric company. (Read part 1. Read part 2.)

To begin with, business-centric companies can be all over the map when it comes to the type of industry in which they compete. Instead of being focused only on either production or engineering services, their offerings span the spectrum of business types—from small, garage-based technology startups to super huge pharmaceutical acquisitions. These companies are often led by modern-day pioneers, who are constantly exploring new ways to succeed.

Surprisingly, suffering market climates is one place you will see the business-centric companies shine.

Instead of hunkering down, trying to weather the market slumps, business-centric companies will often retool and ramp-up their efforts to become better. Some even take advantage of the lows by buying other businesses that face foreclosure. The slow time is an opportunity to become something more so that when the market pressures decline, they hit the ground running.

When it comes to changing philosophies, business-centric companies often lead the way. Staying the same for no other reason than the fear of change or the “we’ve always done it that way” mentality does not even cross the radar. Great companies are ready to make adjustments as the market demands.

Because primary leaders of business-centric companies tend to heavily rely on key individuals or internal champions within each functional group, business-centric companies can be a great opportunity for the right people to make a big impact, even if they are not senior level employees.

These departmental champions or “pioneers” become extremely important when deciding what new technologies to adopt. The organization’s growth depends on how open they are to change and how aggressively they pursue technology improvements.

You may not see major pioneering advancements happening around your company, but if each of us works hard to find better ways to use technology, we can make huge improvements. Remember, shaving seconds off of routine activities is how racers win championships. Everyone can make an impact by taking advantage of each opportunity to improve—be true to the pioneer spirit!

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