Red Queen Hypothesis

Monday Security Memo

Intellectual firepower for security professionals

Red Queen Hypothesis

“When you're finished changing, you're finished.”

— Benjamin Franklin

Dear A,

The Red Queen Hypothesis is one of my favorite metaphors for the modern business world — and life in general. It comes from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, where the Red Queen famously tells Alice, “It takes all the running you can do to stay in the same place.” In 1973, evolutionary biologist Leigh Van Halen borrowed this line to describe how species must constantly adapt just to avoid extinction. (Fun fact: 1973 was a great year because it’s when I was born — and yes, I’ll still argue that Eddie Van Halen, no relation to Leigh, was the greatest guitarist of all time. But I digress.)

In business, the Red Queen’s message is painfully clear: technology improves every single day. If you’re not evolving with it, you’re basically the dodo bird waiting to happen. I think back to my MBA in the late ’90s — I’d argue that 90% of what I learned back then is now obsolete. I even remember entire classes on how to use PowerPoint!

The point is simple: much like the law of the survival of the fittest, you either adapt or die (unless, of course, you work for the government — then you fight off efficiency and best practices like they’re mortal enemies, clinging to the ancient mantra, “Well, that’s how we’ve always done it here.” Try that attitude in business and see where you are in twelve months — probably polishing up your LinkedIn profile.)

“In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

— Eric Hoffer

To fend off the competition, you must embrace lifelong learning. It’s not enough to just hire younger people who “get” technology — you need to learn from them. No one’s asking you to write your own code, but you’d better understand how the tools you rely on actually work, especially AI and other emerging tech.

The Red Queen Hypothesis perfectly encapsulates this relentless race to adapt. Some people earn a degree — bachelor’s, associate’s, whatever — and decide they’re done learning for life. They lock themselves in one field and never expand their horizons. What an awful shame. In a world where the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet, standing still is the fastest way to go extinct.

Stay safe and vigilant!

Luke Bencie