“Nothing recedes like success.”

Walter Winchell
During the 1950’s and ’60’s, the American car industry was second to none. The success of the industry was enhanced by a plethora of media advertising. Remember how many t.v. shows were “brought to you by” a large, heavy, stylish, spacious, (gas-guzzling) American vehicle of all makes? Living high on the production line, the industry entered the ’70’s. Times changed.
The parameters of “success”, became unglued. Philosophies and their customs changed: Gas became expensive. “Style” went out-of-style (temporarily) in service of “quality”. The environment was important. Americans suddenly wanted high-quality, economical cars. And car manufacturers continued making low-quality, gas-guzzlers. What happened next is history.
The auto industry is not the only illustration of this phenomenon that stands out; just an outstanding one. It also occurs much closer to home– everywhere– in industry, business, professions (even psychology!). Those who repeatedly fail at some endeavor by recycling useless outcomes have been advised from time to time to; Stop doing what does not work! Do something else instead! In contrast, when something you are doing does work, it makes sense to keep doing it, right? The answer is a qualified, “yes.”
What makes something work or not are the contingencies under which it operates—in other words, what’s going on around you and in your field. As things change, due to the needs and values of those affected, successful outcomes must do so accordingly. If a successful person stops paying attention to what is really going on in his (her) business, private life, or education, his position is in danger. It is not uncommon for individuals who find something that works to restrict the focus of their attention. “Tunnel vision” takes over, as the field grows increasingly narrower. Instead of expanding their horizons, they only engage in tasks that confirm what has already succeeded; and they lose their edge. People who fail to continually update their knowledge– no matter how successful they are– becoming fearful or suspicious of new ideas, creativity and risk-taking, may find their successes coming unglued; their world becoming one of mediocrity.
Many successful products, ideas, treatments– even relationships– are spawned by the needs of the time and creative, aggressive energy. As times change, the projects of a successful person are based upon what is needed now…not on what worked before. Why has Frank Sinatra been popular with five generations of Americans, while so many entertainers have come and gone? What characteristics of t.v. shows such as, Bonanza, All In The Family and Mash, led to their airing successfully for over a decade? In contrast, why are there so many one- season (or less!), t.v. casualties? It is most useful in seeking creative outcomes to be flexible. That is, to expand your range of possibilities by openly seeking opportunities to achieve in new ways. Thus, we can expand the previous adage: When something you are doing is not working, stop and do something else, to include: And whenever possible, consider something that works a cue– an opportunity– to find another possibility! Frequently, it has been suggested that if you want to acquire something new– a behavior, method, style– find someone who you believe has already mastered that phenomenon and study it; then model him (her). This in contrast to the popularly shared belief that we need to invest most of our energy studying people and things that do not work properly, so we can identify, through labeling, others who also fail to perform to a standard. In short, if you want the glue to keep sticking, assume that even when you are succeeding, even if your services are in demand; even if you are growing and learning in your specialty, that you are running the risk of obsolescence… unless you keep looking around. Keep exploring avenues in which to expand that were not available when you first became successful.