Reconsider the belief your company has the Midas touch 
Get ready, ambitious executives, because we are about to embark on an exciting journey through the ups and downs of your valuable businesses. Remember that confident swagger, boasting about market share and shareholder joy? Well, on your camel you have a case of rough hump-itis, and the oasis you are chasing is not shimmering water, it is the dust storm of trouble on the horizon.
Pay attention, you high-ranking executives, as I educate you on the three-stage downfall of your luxurious positions: Experimentation, Takeoff, and the Slow, Slinky Slide into Decline.
Act One: You are a determined underdog, exploring the vast expanse of potential and searching for fresh ideas like a skilled forager. Sometimes, you hit the jackpot — remember Kodak creating those fancy film boxes? Boom, instant success.
Act Two is the most enticing opportunity on the stock exchange. Money flows in like Vimto in Ramadan, and everyone is breaking their fast, and your CEO believes great success has been achieved. But hold your horses, big shots, because being too comfortable can stifle ambition. You find yourself trapped in your own closed circle, unaware of the subtle hints of transformation lurking beneath your sturdy desks.
This is when Act Three’s unpleasantness occurs. The market can be unpredictable, and while you are focused on your achievements, a determined startup has found a way to challenge your position using clever strategies. And now, unceremoniously, your once-unbreakable dominance crumbles like stale pastry. Witness how the car mocked the outdated buggy whip, the smartphone sent Nokia packing, and streaming services made music execs a thing of the past.
But why, you wonder, are you unable to perceive the wind shifting and sense the vibrations beneath your seat? Let us take a closer look inside your minds, shall we? First, there is that comforting blanket of accomplishment, suffocating any glimmer of desire to learn. You are so caught up counting your riches that you overlook the opportunity to explore the entrepreneurial world for fresh ideas. Then there is the reassurance of your echo chamber, filled with supportive individuals boosting your confidence and complimenting you on your pleasant perfume.
Be the beast that spreads its wings and ascends, not the one struggling in its own haze. So shed your fancy robes, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to embark on the thrilling adventure of disruption.
Next comes the Big Kahuna of corporate challenges: silos. Your company is a maze of cubicles, each one a kingdom guarded by jargon-spouting gatekeepers. Ideas often get buried in the challenges of bureaucracy, and collaboration can struggle to thrive like a neglected plant in a dimly lit area. And lastly, fear — that withered fruit clinging in your executive gut. You are so afraid of losing your sandcastle that you isolate yourself from anything new, holding onto the old ways like a mountaineer gripping a worn-out compass.
But here is the great news, moguls: It is not too late to leave the camel behind and jump on a rocket. First, let go of the ego, embrace a humble mindset and let curiosity guide you, not just quarterly reports. Second, smash those silos, let ideas dance across departments, and allow the winds of entrepreneurial innovation to blow through. Third, embrace fear as the flavor that keeps your mind sharp and your instincts honed.
And lastly, remember, the world is not static, it is a whirlwind of change. Change or get left behind. Be the beast that spreads its wings and ascends, not the one struggling in its own haze. So shed your fancy robes, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to embark on the thrilling adventure of disruption. The future is a wild animal stampede, and only the nimble survive. Now go out there, embrace the madness, and rewrite your fate before the sands of time swallow you whole.
Remember, people, the sun does not shine forever. Even great empires eventually fall apart. So keep your minds focused, embrace the challenges, and perhaps, just perhaps, your King Midas reign can withstand the unpredictable twists of fate. Yalla, get it done.
• Abdulelah S. Al-Nahari is the managing director of business development for a prestigious marketing-solutions firm. An expert in his field, he leads strategic-growth initiatives in line with Saudi Arabia’s digital-first vision. The key components of his drive for excellence in the industry are his multi-sector awareness, strategic digital foresight and range of industry experience.
