These companies demonstrate a particularly powerful Genius of the AND: preserve the core AND stimulate progress. Think of a yin-yang symbol used in Taoist philosophy. On one side, you have “preserve the core.” On the other side, you have “stimulate progress.
Related Quotes
To maintain the core of your product there are usually one or two things that have to stay still while everything else spins and changes around them.
And that’s a useful constraint. You need some constraints to force you to dig deep and get creative, to push envelopes you hadn’t thought to open before.
Chinese philosopher Lao-Tzu, author of the Tao Te Ching, wrote, ‘The Sage holds on to the One and in this way becomes the shepherd of the world. He does not show himself off; therefore he becomes prominent. He does not put himself on display; therefore he brightly shines. He does not brag about himself; therefore he receives credit. He does not praise his own deeds; therefore he can long endure. It is only because he does not compete that, therefore, no one is able to compete with him.
Lao Tsu in his Tao Te Ching shares an invaluable piece of wisdom: “The world is ruled by letting things take their course. It cannot be ruled by interfering.
The classic reference to the Taoist approach is Lao Tsu’s sixth-century-B.C. work, Tao Te Ching. It gives directions for achieving the Taoist state of being. Here’s one from Chapter Sixty-six:
Why is the sea king of a hundred streams?
Because it lies below them.
Therefore it is the king of a hundred streams.
If the sage would guide the people, he must serve with humility.
If he would lead them, he must follow behind.
In this way when the sage rules, the people will not feel oppressed:
When he stands before them, they will not be harmed.
The whole world will support him and will not tire of him.
Because he does not compete,
He does not meet competition.
Jim Collins discovered that enduring companies operate with a dual dynamic that he labeled “preserve the core/stimulate progress.