Continuous Improvement. Why should you care?

Once you figured out how to do something and do it well, it's easy to fall into the trap of being content. It's understandable. If you reach a certain level of quality - however you define that - you deserve taking the time to enjoy what you've done. And if you are the only beneficiary of your efforts - in my case, riding a bicycle - there is no need to aim for more, unless of course you have a desire to do so. But if you make a living using your skills - like programming - and someone else benefits from your efforts, then you cannot afford to stand still for too long and be content with what you have achieved.

We live in a competitive world, a world in which everyone is free to take a shot at delivering the service you are. Others can learn from the skills you have built from the ground up or the results you have produced. They can mix in their own creativity, resourcefulness and add unique twists. You can compare it to inflation of your service. Sooner or later, your customers will be presented with alternatives that are meaningful to them, and they will make their choice.

But if you continuously challenge how your service helps your customer, the way you work, the quality with which you deliver your service, the speed with which you can satisfy your customer's ask, you are in a much better position to stay ahead of the competition or at the very least stay in the game.

Standing still is the fastest way of moving backwards in a rapidly changing world - Lauren Bacall

Not everyone is equally competitive. You may not want to be the very best at something. You may enjoy what you do. Well, that's great! For you as well, though, the world is rapidly changing. The services that you offer today might no longer be needed tomorrow in the same way. New techniques, new tools, even new ways of using the services you offer will have a significant impact on your ability to keep on delivering them going forward. For you, continuous improvement allows you to keep on doing what you do today. You will need to improve to stay relevant.

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