The Pain and the Pleasure of Modernization

Oh, the pain! That searing white pain that starts in the temples. You can feel it enter every synapse in your brain.

The questions start…

How can I move my company forward? Are my competitors passing me by? How do I break down the walls of that dreaded, dark, deplorable word: LEGACY. Do I throw it all away and start over? How do I get with the times?  And worst of all… How much is it going to cost me?

As a business owner, or as the head of any organization, you’ve faced these questions at some point. It can be scary, and it can be downright dangerous. In this blog, I wanted to share some lessons I’ve learned by taking on some of these questions related to Kenton Brothers and our 120-year-old legacy.

Our legacy dates back to the days when we did umbrella repair and sharpened lawn mower blades between locksmith jobs.

Today, we’re a company that installs and services state-of-the-art access control and IP video surveillance for government agencies, universities, banks and thousands of small businesses all over Kansas City. That said, we still love being the areas most trusted locksmith.

So on to the lessons I’ve learned…

Lesson 1: Expect to make mistakes!

In business, you’re taught to avoid mistakes and mitigate risk as much as possible. While this is true, every executive on any board will tell you that they made plenty of mistakes along the way. So don’t get caught up thinking that everything should be going more smoothly. It won’t. Just like in combat, the plan goes out the window the moment the first shot is fired.

Lesson 2: Where you start makes a HUGE difference!

This was a hard lesson to learn but also very important. As Stephen Covey and our CEO Gina Stuelke says, “Begin with the end in mind.”

In our case, this was critical because the path changes based on the daily socialization and execution of our team. Where we want to end up will never change. It gives us a solid target to keep our eye on when things go sideways – and they will – bet on it! So create a plan that has the end clearly defined. What will you measure to know whether or not the transition was successful?

Lesson 3: Embrace your legacy!

Yes – go ahead and give it a huge, crushing hug! The legacy that you have may be an obstacle to moving forward, but it’s ingrained in your organization –so love it up! This was my hardest lesson to learn. As a “finisher” I want SO badly to check the done box and finish the task so that I could revel in the fact that we accomplished something.

I wanted to see LED signage in our office displaying the most up to date Key Performance Indicator (KPI) information.

What I found is that the things that make us successful come from our legacy. Our core values, our work ethic, our continued commitment to our culture. This is the magic sauce that will drive the results and market share we’re looking for.

Lesson 4: Modernization, like success, is a journey… not a destination – so take pictures!

You never truly reach the level of modernization you hope to as the world around you is constantly reinventing itself… while you are trying to do the same.

With today’s world made up of “The Internet of Things” and devices taking advantage of artificial intelligence and the cloud – one can only hope to stay ahead of the curve. So… enjoy it! Yes, relish the fact that you are pushing the envelope and exploring new territory.

Once in a while, take a look around and take some pictures. This will give you visual evidence of any progress you’re making. Look at the numbers, ask your team how they are feeling. I would recommend you do this monthly. This will give you a clear picture of the progress while allowing your team time to move the ball.

Lesson 5: Caution! The change curve ahead.

As you’ve read several times in other places, change is handled differently by everyone. Spend time understanding this reality.

Early adopters are great and make it a lot easier by proving it works, but the team members with the most experience and knowledge tend to be the most afraid of change. They have the most value in the current system. Engage them early and often because they’re the ones with a strong sense of culture and work ethic. This was by far my greatest lesson learned.

One last encouragement…

Lean on your team and let them lean on you. Transition is hard, so much harder than you can imagine sometimes – but it will get better as long as you communicate and keep supporting each other. Once in a while, get out and have some fun together!