We need to redefine “success”.

In business it is often measured by growth.

But isn’t there a point at which a business is successful because it is sustainable? A point at which, the business is stable?

We persist is seeing everything as a race. Companies have to be bigger, grow faster, achieve more market share. Entrepreneurs with a solid business plan are asked – but is it scalable? Can you get bigger?

This obsession with “more” is destroying our economy and our planet.

One example is the recent shut down of meat processing plants in Alberta. Only three plants account for 95 per cent of all beef production in Canada. The plants are massive – arguably allowing for efficiencies of scale. Are these “efficiencies” passed on to consumers or do the additional profits simply accrue to senior management and shareholders? I don’t know.

Just to be a pain in your thoughts – if bigger and centralized is always better – why don’t we have government owned and operated meat processing plants? The primary reason is that this model doesn’t allow for wealth creation (in the hands of a few).

Ok – I am not arguing in favour of communism – at least not today.

But our concentration of resources leaves us vulnerable.

Strange that we still think that keeping all of your eggs in one basket is a bad idea. We fear monopolies. We still talk about diversification in investment. At the same time, we applaud and reward businesses that grow and consume the competition.

Maybe Covid-19 will prove to be a needed disruption. More likely not.