If my business outgrows the software we implemented last year, I would view it as a sign of progress and success. Dwelling on the cost of software we’ve outgrown is unproductive. That very software likely played a crucial role in moving us forward and enabling our growth.
Digital assets, such as software, function much like scaffolding. They provide the structure and support needed to elevate us to the next level. Once we’ve climbed higher, we may need to retire the current tools and adopt more advanced ones. We can either look back and lament the expense of software that is no longer suitable, or we can focus on its contribution to our advancement and measure the value it delivered.
The key takeaway is this: outgrowing software is an indicator of evolution. Of course, the decision-making process when selecting software is critical, as is the quality of the implementation. But when growth occurs, it is a natural and positive outcome to retire older systems and embrace better solutions. By shifting our focus from the cost of what’s being retired to the value it helped create, we empower ourselves to make smarter, growth-oriented decisions irrespective of current constraints, such as limited resources or staffing. The action is to continually assess our needs, invest in what moves us forward, and celebrate the progress enabled by each tool along the way.
