When up-and-comers decide to do things differently than how the industry has always done them they get labeled as arrogant and naive. Then, when their methods work, they get labeled as lucky.
When people with established businesses decide to change course and try a different tack, they get labeled as desperate.
Everyone wants to be known as an original and a pioneer. No one wants to talk about the fact that pioneers have scars. Many of those scars come from the gossip of people who refuse to discipline themselves to do the work that results in positive change.
Don’t expect people to fight fair. More importantly, don’t allow that to make you cynical.
Originally published December 2014
