Long ago Darwin proposed his theory on the survival of the fittest. The evolutionary theory holds that organisms will continue to exist when they are best adapted to their environment, and this comes with the extinction of other organisms who are not adequately adapted to the same environment. As environments change, the organisms that are fit enough to adapt will survive while others die. In today’s world, we can see this concept is still at play.
Most organisms have certain requirements in order to survive. For humans, we NEED oxygen, water, and nutrients from food to live. Without these factors we would eventually die. Humans have many other necessities like shelter, clothing, and good health. There are some things that humans feel they need but could realistically live without…like clothing. Clothing is not a factor that will cause us to die should we not have any. Long ago humans survived in a harmonious fashion with Mother Earth. As time progressed, they developed the need for money/currency as a tool for survival. Money allows people to buy the items that they need to survive such as food, as well as other necessities like shelter and medical care. The more money that a person has, the higher the probability of their survival (or fitness according to Darwin). The less money a human has, the riskier their chances of survival become. Thus, people have developed a never-ending need for money. No one wants to die; most people want to have the opportunity to live their fullest lifetime. Each individual’s fear of death is what causes them to strive so desperately for financial resources.
Much like humans, businesses also have certain needs that must be met in order to survive. Businesses require paying customers/clients, employees, and whatever else is required for their products/services. Similar to humans, businesses also have other necessities like a facility and insurance. The more money/assets that a business has, the higher the probability of its survival. The less money/assets that a business has, the riskier it is for it to survive challenging situations. Thus, businesses have developed a never-ending need for profits. No business wants to close down (aka die). Most businesses want to be successful and thrive long into the future.
Businesses are like people in that they too have their own type of life cycle and lifetime. A business’s fear of closure is what causes it to strive so desperately for financial resources and profits. Changes in the global economy may leave businesses vulnerable. The businesses best suited to survive these changes will continue to remain open, while others shutdown. That is what we have witnessed during the COVID pandemic. Not only were people dying during this global situation, but businesses were too. Since people are dependent on businesses for their income and necessities, and businesses are dependent on people to be their employees and paying customers, it is in everyone’s best interest to unite and synergize.
This is a period in time that we are able to come together to reevaluate how we have operated up to this point, focus on weak points in the model, and seek to improve or rebuild based on the facts. We can reimagine how we wish to operate moving forward and build something completely new and fresh. By paying attention to our vulnerabilities and the factors that we have become dependent upon, we can create something that is stronger and more resilient to unexpected shifts in the environment or economy. Both businesses and people can implement new ways to survive and thrive in this changing world. It’s time for us to adapt to change so we can continue to survive!