Yesterday, the power went out before I got up. No big deal, but it shut down my computers, killed my cable box, and reset my alarm clock. Needless to say, I ended up getting out of bed almost 2 hours later than usual.
I remember rolling over, looking at the clock, and saying, “What? It’s only 2am? I’m going back to bed.”
I woke up an hour later, frustrated that I could get to sleep. “Wait a minute, why is the sun up at 3 o’clock?”
That’s when I realized the clock hadn’t been displaying a time, it had been flashing a time. I hadn’t actually looked long enough to realize the problem. Luckily, it only meant my day started a little late; no harm, no foul.
Extend this scenario to the workplace. What signs do you frequently look to in your office that could do with a longer stare? Had I looked at the clock for more than a passing glance, I would have realized the problem and double checked on my watch. Is there a business indicator that you could look at for a second or two longer to better diagnose impending market problems?
Waking up a few hours late is no big deal. Missing an important product release by a few months could kill your business.
