Kodak was founded in the late 1880s, became a titan in photography in the 1970s and filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Although Kodak was in the picture business, they did not have the right picture of the future.

Analysts surmised that there are three reasons for its downfall.

1. Remaining stagnant – even though the company noticed that online photo sharing was the new wave, they failed to see that it was not just a new way to expand their printing operations.
2. Complacency – even though Fuji, their primary competitor, was offering a better film, Kodak was not responsive.
3. Organizational rigidity – the executives felt they could still thrive on past successes and conducted business as usual even though there were other voices to the contrary.

There are lessons from Kodak’s downfall we can adopt even in our personal lives.

1. Anticipate change and be receptive to new ways to operate.
2. Heed the voice of wise counsel by including them in your decisions.

Even though we live in a world of change, we still need an anchor and God does not change.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.

(NASB, Hebrews 13:8)

Let us include God in the picture, or in our mastermind, because His words provide wise counsel.

Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.

(NASB, Psalm 147:5)