Adapt or Die

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual Firepower for Professionals

Adapt or Die

“There are two options... adapt or die.”

- Andy Grove

Dear A,

Change is not a threat. It is the price of progress. History has shown that those who resist change do not merely fall behind... they disappear. In an era defined by artificial intelligence and rapid technology shifts, the message is clear: adapt or die.

Nature has followed this rule since the beginning of life. The dinosaurs did not choose extinction. The dodo did not intend to vanish. They simply failed to evolve fast enough for a changing environment. Modern society is no different. What feels comfortable today becomes obsolete tomorrow. The only way to thrive is to continuously learn, grow, and evolve.

Kodak provides a powerful example. Once the undisputed leader in film photography, Kodak actually invented the first digital camera in 1975. Instead of embracing innovation, leadership suppressed it, fearing it would disrupt film sales. Their refusal to pivot cost them a century of dominance and ultimately their future. Kodak did not perish because technology changed. Kodak perished because they refused to change.

Blockbuster Video made a similar mistake. Executives laughed at Netflix’s mail-order DVDs, and later dismissed the idea of streaming movies online. Blockbuster believed people would always prefer physical stores and late fees. Netflix bet on convenience and digital delivery. Only one of those bets paid off. Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. Netflix became a global entertainment powerhouse.

Nokia, once the world leader in mobile phones, also serves as a warning. They focused on hardware and reliability, while Apple and others recognized that the future belonged to software ecosystems and user experience. The smartphone revolution left Nokia behind, not because they lacked resources, but because they clung to the past.

Adaptation is the bridge between who you are and who you can become.

The same rule applies to each of us. Careers that once lasted a lifetime now shift rapidly. Skills age quickly. Artificial intelligence, automation, and global competition mean we must become lifelong learners. Understanding emerging technology, studying history, and paying attention to geopolitics make us more well-rounded, adaptable, and resilient.

Success today does not reward stubbornness. It rewards curiosity. It rewards those willing to embrace new perspectives, reinvent themselves, and ask, “How can I grow as the world changes around me?”

Comfort is the enemy of progress. Change is the only constant. Adaptation is the only strategy. The question remains: Are you evolving?

Stay safe and vigilant!

Luke Bencie