Culture Is the Way

CHAPTER 4The Five Roadblocks to Cultural Excellence

If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.

—Jack Welch

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” I've heard people say that my entire life.

To be honest, I've never understood this. I've always been the type of person who is looking for the next big thing. The upgraded version. The best of the best. And who wouldn't want that?

Sure, if a friend or family member already has something they think is great, why would they go through the trouble of buying a new one if what they have is adequate? Perhaps they have a good enough refrigerator that they've been using for the past twenty years. They might say, “Why in the world would I want a new fridge when this old one works just fine?”

For starters, older refrigerators consume more electricity than newer models. Simply ask a salesperson at any appliance store. That's because when a refrigerator stops working, it consumes more electricity as it struggles to keep a cool temperature despite a faulty compressor, a worn‐out motor, and leaking seals. Refrigerators have become much more sophisticated and energy‐efficient over the last twenty years. According to the American Council for an Energy‐Efficient Economy, and the National Resources Defense Council, despite new features such as defrost and ice‐making, a new typical refrigerator uses only 25% as much electricity as one sold in the 1970s.

Families who replace their old refrigerators ...