The Future of History
Greetings. We've just returned from spending four days on Chincoteague Island. It's one of our favorite getaways on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and a place rich with history. It's also a place made famous by the classic children book called "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry and the starting point for a bicycle ride to Assateague National Seashore. The island's economic and cultural past is tied, in large part, to fishing, watermen, crabs, oysters, clams, and life on the Atlantic coast. But its history is also linked to wild horses and a fascinating story about how they got there in the 1600's. Many people believe that the horses arrived when a Spanish galleon bound for the "New" World sank along the coast. And the discovery of a sunken Spanish ship several years ago lends credence to this possibility.
The rest of the eastern shore of Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia is also filled with amazing history. The history of the Bay, the history of many native peoples who called this unusual stretch of land and sea home, the history of three of the original 13 American colonies, the history of the development and tribulations of a young nation, and the birthplace and home of many well-known people including Harriet Tubman. In fact, it is this history that has become an essential part of the region's present and future. Because as many traditional economic activities have declined, the region increasingly relies on tourism, the water, and history as its economic reason to be. And you see it clearly on so many highway signs as you approach practically every city and town. Signs welcoming you to such places as "Historic Cambridge," "Historic Easton," "Historic Accomac," "Historic Mardela Springs," "Historic Onancock," "Historic Princess Anne," "Historic Smith Island," "Historic Pocomoke City," "Historic Chestertown," "Historic Tangier Island," and countless other "historic" places.
It's a reasonable strategy for communities, but not so great for companies and organizations. Sure it's important to have a remarkable history, but in the business world it's not enough. The big issue is what have you done for me lately and what will you do for me moving forward. So while history is a vital foundation, as companies and organizations it's more important to be fresh, new, and offering the innovative services, products, and solutions that customers need now.
We win in business and in life by knowing where we came from and where we need to go. It's this combination of compelling history and current and future value that is the genius of the best companies and organizations.
Cheers!
