When to make a Change of Plans

 

Do you remember the Kodak Company? They were once the world leaders i photographic film, with strong brands like Kodachrome and Ektachrome. So what happened to them? They got completely overrun by digital photography, and eventually went bankrupt in 1983. You might think that the new technology took them by surprise, giving them no time to reform their business, but that's not the case. In fact, Kodak made the very first digital camera in 1975 (as shown above). They also hade some success in providing sensors to digital camera manufacturers, so why did they fail?

Even though Kodak knew perfectly well that digital photography would soon make film obsolete, and they were well advanced in digital technology, they could not bring themselves to abandoning film. It had always been at the core of their business, and they felt that they had invested too much in it to just let it go.

This scenario is common in chess too - you have built a great plan only to discover later that it doesn't work. Theoretically, the solution is simple: just ditch that failing plan and make a new one. However, in reality, it's not that simple. Having invested precious time and energy, it's tempting to try to save at least some parts of your plant. Don't to that, just remember Kodak, and make a brand now plan.

It might help to see a plan as a vehicle to take you a bit further down the road. Once you get there (even if the position isn't what you hoped for), it's time to make a new plan and forget about the old one.