Dale Carnegie famously said, “Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” In this series, we’re finding lessons from failure through historical disasters, infamous debacles, and product flops.
We’ll give you our spin on each noteworthy failure and connect it to a valuable lesson for MSPs.
#1: The Titanic: Don’t Skimp on Disaster Recovery Planning
- Failure Summary: The Titanic was deemed “unsinkable” but sank after hitting an iceberg due to insufficient lifeboats and overconfidence in its design.
Lesson for MSPs: Like the Titanic, overconfidence in your IT infrastructure can lead to disaster. You need robust disaster recovery plans and enough “lifeboats” (backups, failover systems) in place. No IT system is unsinkable.
- Conclusion: Even the most advanced systems can fail, so don’t get caught without enough lifeboats. Disaster recovery is your MSP’s insurance against the unexpected—because sometimes, it’s what you don’t see (like an iceberg) that causes the most damage.
#2: The Battle of Waterloo: When Overconfidence Dooms Your Strategy
- Failure Summary: Napoleon Bonaparte’s overconfidence at the Battle of Waterloo led to his defeat, ending his reign as Emperor of France.
Lesson for MSPs: Overconfidence can blind you to potential risks. Past successes don’t mean you can get complacent. MSPs must adapt, reassess, and prepare for new challenges—whether it’s a new competitor, tech advancement, or client need.
- Conclusion: Waterloo provides a powerful lesson from failure: never underestimate the competition and always evolve your strategy. Your MSP may have had a few victories, but if you rest on your laurels, an epic loss might be one poorly planned data migration away.
#3: New Coke: Why Listening to Your Clients is Essential
- Failure Summary: In 1985, Coca-Cola introduced New Coke, a product flop that faced immediate backlash from loyal customers. The company quickly returned to the original formula.
Lesson for MSPs: Ignoring your clients’ needs and preferences can be disastrous. Before rolling out a new service or making a major change, ensure you’ve consulted your customers and understand what they truly want. It’s about improving the client experience, not just what you think is best.
- Conclusion: New Coke teaches us that you can’t just assume clients will love what you think is an upgrade. Get their feedback first, or be prepared for them to ‘pour out’ on your latest service offering.
Featured Image: iStock
Additional Images: DALLE-E 3
