Leveraging Inflection Points
We're in the midst of a seismic cultural shift—a global inflection point. This is one of those rare moments when it pays to pause, reflect, and pressure-test your assumptions and plans. If you play it right, these moments can be your best opportunity to leapfrog forward.
Every so often, there’s a symbolic event (or series of events) that signals The Times They Are A-Changin’—a flashpoint representing deeper tectonic shifts in culture, business, politics, the economy, and the environment. These are rare but transformative moments that punctuate the decades and define cycles. Think Strauss-Howe Generational Theory or the predictions in The Fourth Turning.
In my lifetime, I've seen a handful of these turning points—maybe one or two each decade. Here’s a snapshot of the game-changing events I’ve used as recalibration moments from recent history:
World Wide Web (1993 >)
DotCom Bust (2000)
9/11 (2001)
iPhone Launch (2007 >)
Obama (2008)
2008 Financial Crisis (2008)
Social Media + YouTube Algorithm Changes (2011 >)
Trump 1 (2016 >)
Covid Shutdown (2020 >)
Post-ChatGPT AI (November 2022 >)
Trump 2 & The 2024 Election (2024)
If you’re focused on long-term, high-impact missions—like our health moonshots at StartUp Health—these moments are prime opportunities to leapfrog and level up.
Here’s the thing: while most leaders and builders keep their heads down and try to push through with brute force, I believe inflection points are when you need to look up and recalibrate most. These are rare windows where you can, and should, reassess everything—holistically.
Inflection points give you the cover to do what most avoid: to pause and rethink your approach. While the world gets lost in chaos, confusion, and noise, you have the chance to reexamine the playing field. It’s a time to rethink assumptions and break from old patterns.
This is the perfect moment to look at everything in your business and life with fresh eyes. It's an opportunity to go back to first principles. To dig deep. To be bold.
How to start? Take a long walk. Ask questions. Listen more. Change your routine for a few days. But don’t waste time. Windows close fast.
Yes, transitions can be unsettling, even frightening. But they’re also your permission slip to shed old layers, embrace the unexpected, and stack your deck while everyone else is distracted.
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Thought-Starters for Reflection
Whether for business or personal growth, here are some key questions to consider:
North Star
Has my WHY evolved?
Do my goals and mission need refining to fit this new reality?
Are they bold enough for this world in flux?
What truly matters to me and my loved ones right now?
How can I achieve my dreams faster?
The World
How has the world shifted, and why?
How do these changes impact my mission and goals?
What are my competitors doing—or more likely, not doing?
Who are my real competitors today/tomorrow?
The Future
Given what we know now, where do I see things heading in 1, 5, or 10 years?
How has the landscape transformed?
What are the implications for my business and life?
Taking Action
What needs to change in how I operate, today and moving forward?
How can I leverage this inflection point to advance my WHY and personal goals?
How can I use this moment to propel my mission further/faster?
Dream Impossible!
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Hey friends: I’m looking to meet the very best Health Transformers (biotech, health tech, healthcare founders/CEOs) looking to collaborate during this inflection point to scale faster. I’d like to invite them to join one of our 24 Health Moonshot communities at www.startuphealth.com. Please have them mention your name so our team gives them VIP priority for interviews.