Are there similarities between digitalization and extreme sports?
People are engaged in extreme sports like never before, but have you considered that there is a connection between climbing, base jumping, cliff diving, steep skiing, and digitalization? With both extreme sports and digitalization, you have to dare to take a risk without being completely certain of the outcome – and be willing to fail.
"Extreme sports are sports and recreational activities where the athlete pushes physical boundaries and/or exposes themselves to a relatively high risk of injury." That's how Store norske leksikon defines the term. Activities such as climbing, diving, base jumping, skydiving, freeriding, motorsports, cliff diving, and so on quickly come to mind. With the help of helmet cameras and social media, extreme sports have gained an increasing number of participants in recent years, even though they can be life-threatening if mistakes are made. Therefore, it is important to create systems, a "safety net," that make it safe to make mistakes. The learning that comes from these, sometimes painful, mistakes creates safety for the best athletes.
Ekstremsportveko is a week filled with extreme sports, and takes place in Voss, Norway every year in June, is a prime example of this development. Since its inception in 1997 with 200 participants and fewer than a thousand spectators, this year it attracts several thousand participants from all over the world and around 50,000 spectators. Starting with four activities, it has now grown to nearly 20 different activities, united by the common desire for boundary-pushing and exhilarating experiences.
Digitalization is an extreme sport
So, what is the similarity between extreme sports and digitalization? Digitalization is also pushing boundaries and nerve-racking, and if you fail, it can be life-threatening for the business in question.
Digitalization is innovation, and innovation is all about taking a leap without knowing for certain where you will land. To get your people on board with the exercise, a culture, a "safety net," must be built where it is safe to make mistakes.
The IT landscape has become an exceedingly complex territory to venture into in recent years. There are powerful gusts of different technology trends, an abundance of abbreviations, and the vocabulary of IT professionals makes the path you tread unclear and uncertain.
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Moving to the cloud is like an inverted parachute jump
Digitalization often means moving some or all of the IT systems into the cloud. It's almost like an inverted parachute jump. Just as in a parachute jump, where your movements have completely different consequences than when walking on the ground, different laws and rules apply in the cloud compared to your on-prem data center. It is said that you will reap many benefits from your cloud investment, but you must be ready and thoroughly prepared. It's like packing the parachute before a jump. You need to fold it correctly for it to safely open when you're in the air. Thorough and proper preparations are essential for a safe parachute jump, just as they are for a journey to the cloud.
Additionally, you cannot bring everything up into the cloud. Some of the infrastructure and systems need to be shut down and remain on the ground. It is too heavy, costly, and uncertain to bring them into the cloud. Nevertheless, it may be difficult to let go, turn off the switch, and hope that nothing is lost.
Digitalization and Mount Everest
As a tour guide on a cloud journey, you must be daring and adjust the trip according to the terrain, constantly questioning if you're on the right course. Often, you have to make new plans and change both the starting point and the destination. Perhaps you discover that the goal keeps moving. Behind the summit you see, there is a new peak when you stand on the first one. You begin to understand that you will likely never be finished. This is where the real journey begins when you realize what you have actually embarked upon. Digitalization is not a "quick fix" but a lifelong journey that requires both endurance and commitment.
Digitalization without setbacks, resistance, and pain is a myth. The agile culture has embraced this and, over time, many businesses have abandoned the large projects. They have realized that you cannot reach Mount Everest with a heavy backpack and rigid ascent plans. You must be light on your feet and adapt to ever-changing weather conditions. There is no satisfaction in reaching the summit quickly if you cross the finish line crawling because your technical debt was too heavy to carry.
Embrace the detours
You may have reached your destination first, within the estimated time frame, but you didn't collect the gold along the way. Having to take detours is not a defeat – in fact, they hold great pockets of value, filled with extra experiences and knowledge. That's why more people should embrace the detours!
Digitalization is innovation, and innovation is about taking the time to navigate the winding detours. And when you stumble, you need to know that you have a support system that will help you back on your feet.
Many don't dare and remain spectators to the wave of digitalization sweeping over the country. They might not have the necessary safety net in place, one woven with psychological safety and a culture that applauds those who try, those who stumble, and those who dare to take big risks without knowing exactly how the landing will be.
At Cegal, we have business consultants who understand that digitalization is challenging and uncertain. That's why we can help your organization navigate the demanding changes in a way that considers not only the technical upgrades but also the people and culture. It's not so different from extreme sports. A driving force in extreme sports is that athletes expose themselves to potentially life-threatening situations. This risk is calculated, but thorough preparation and experience prioritize safety to the greatest extent possible.
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