For years and years, taxi drivers had medallions. It was something so valuable that they could pass it down from generation to generation. You could borrow against it, sell it for millions and owned your own destiny for all those that had one.

Then, in March of 2009, UberCab was launched.

Initially, none of those cab drivers gave this a second thought. “After all, we have these Medallions and we have been doing business the same way for decades. No one will be able to take that away from us,” they thought.

Then, on July 5th, 2010, Uber launched their ride share business, changing the way people would think about transportation forever.

Now, the cab driver unions fought this with all their might. Tried to stop the whole thing and end these “gig” workers with their fancy app based service, from invading their fiefdom.

But customers had enough of what they got from the “Cab Driver Experience.” Without even knowing it, the customer wanted and demanded something different.

From the commercials with Will Farrell in the back of a limo, music blaring, to the feeling of getting to be a A-list celebrity, consumers wanted something new and fresh.

Consumers wanted more. Demanded more. And Uber listened, thought about the “problem,” and delivered on the opportunity.

Today, those very same taxi medallions are worthless.

An industry changed forever.

Now think about what is happening today. All the innovation we see and the speed by which those innovations are taking over industry.

If you don’t adapt, you die.

The challenge today is the speed by which you MUST change.

The opportunity is also the speed in which you choose to change.

These are not options. You cannot ignore them. Like them or not, they are here and the Genie is out of the bottle.

Instead of fighting, like the taxi unions did, embrace the change.

Embrace the opportunity.

Adapt.

Get excited.

Welcome in the new order.

-J.D.