Hey there, digital warriors! ⚔️

Let’s kick off the new year 🎉 with some jaw-dropping data 📈!

Did you know that 52% of Fortune 500 companies from 2003 no longer exist?

Shocking, right? But here’s the real story: most of them didn’t crumble under market competition or external shocks. They failed because they couldn’t adapt fast enough. They couldn’t evolve—or they stumbled during their digital transformations. This week, we’re peeling back the layers on what it really takes to scale excellence in IT. How do the world’s best organizations transform digital disruption into clarity? How do they elevate from mediocrity to mastery?

But wait, you might be thinking: “Mike, hold on a sec. Why lump every industry into needing IT excellence?” Fair question, my friend. Here’s why:

IT isn’t just a sector anymore—it’s everywhere.

Remember Marc Andreessen’s bold claim in 2011 that “software will eat the world”? Fast forward, and it’s no longer a prediction; it’s our reality. Software powers everything—our watches, phones, smart homes, medical devices, retail, transportation, and even how we manage money. Think about this: in the early 1960s, almost no one was online. Today, over 66% of the global population is connected. This explosion in digital adoption underscores just how deeply IT and software have woven themselves into the fabric of modern life.

“IT isn’t just a department—it’s the backbone of every thriving industry.”

As we move into 2025, this trend shows no signs of slowing. Organizations that embrace digital evolution 🌱 are positioned to reap massive rewards in efficiency, innovation, and customer engagement.

But here’s the twist: scaling excellence isn’t about doing more, moving faster, or mimicking someone else’s playbook. It’s about carving out a sustainable path—one where your people, teams, and technology can thrive in this ever-shifting digital storm.

Ready to dive into the how? Let’s get started. 🚀

Why Scaling Excellence Feels Impossible

Let’s start with the elephant in the room 🐘: most digital transformations fail. And not just by a little—they fail spectacularly, leaving behind wasted resources, shattered morale, and stagnant progress. But why?

Because many organizations are chasing a fantasy—a quick fix for deep-rooted inefficiencies.

McKinsey’s 2020 report highlighted that only 9% of transformations are lasting. Fast forward to 2024, and guess what? Not much has changed. These failures are like a worm 🐛silently devouring your carefully nurtured garden salad 🥗—slow, destructive, and maddeningly persistent.

But here’s the overlooked consequence: the human toll.

As André Martin eloquently explains in his book 📕 Wrong Fit, Right Fit, being forced into the wrong work environment feels like writing with your non-dominant hand. Go ahead, try it ✍️. Frustrating, right? Now imagine doing that day after day, project after project for years.

This emotional exhaustion isn’t just anecdotal; it’s being measured.

• Gallup’s 2024 research shows a staggering 77% of employees are disengaged.
• Infinite Potential’s 2024 research reveals that 38% of professionals are burned out.

Think about that for a moment. You’ve got a workforce operating at a fraction of its potential. The ripple effects are catastrophic:

• 81% increased absenteeism, 43% higher turnover, high healthcare costs (34% of annual salary)
• Worse 👉 Burnout is linked to a 77% higher risk of suicidal ideation and a 5.78x increase in workplace offenses.

And then there’s IT—the backbone of modern business. Only 1% of developers worldwide qualify as true Software Craftsmen. Why such dismal numbers?

Because the market prioritizes cheap over skilled. In an industry with no universal standards for professionalism, ethics, or quality, the hunt for capable developers is like searching for a needle in a haystack. When we analyzed data from over 20,000 developers during workforce upskilling programs for our clients, the results were bleak:

• Less than 4% passed a simple technical assessment.
• Among those, another 3% dropped due to deficits in ethical or social skills.

Net result?

Only 1% of candidates met the bar for true software craftsmanship.

Now, picture trying to scale excellence in a system that’s barely limping along. It’s like entering a Formula 1 race with a car stuck in first gear.

“Excellence isn’t about adding speed; it’s about removing friction—social and technical.”

And here’s the kicker: the biggest friction point isn’t tools, frameworks, or tech debt. It’s your organization’s environment. Disengaged teams, poorly aligned goals, and clunky processes create the perfect storm of inefficiency. Yet, instead of addressing these core issues, most organizations just throw more tools, frameworks, and consultants at the problem, hoping for a miracle.

What’s the Secret Sauce?

Let’s pause ⏸️ here and ask the obvious question:

if traditional transformation methods aren’t working, what does?

The answer lies in EVOLUTION 🌱. Instead of forcing change, you nurture it. You create environments where teams feel empowered to grow, adapt, and innovate.

Here’s a sneak peek at what that looks like:

1. Social Engineering: Stop focusing solely on skill sets. Start designing environments that foster collaboration, creativity, and accountability. 2 .Socio-Technical Mastery: Align your technical practices with your cultural values. Excellence happens when these two socio-technical elements are in harmony.
2. Key Behavioral Indicators (KBIs): Measure what truly matters - how people behave. Track behaviors and design change campaigns that drive outcomes, not just outputs. Work on individuals, teams, the whole organization with different social and behavioral approaches.

“Scaling excellence isn’t a process; it’s a mindset—and it starts with your people.”

Looking Ahead: What’s Next?

This isn’t just the end of a chapter—it’s the beginning of a revolution for The Forge of Unicorns. As we kick off 2025, we’re doubling down on the principles that matter most: creating environments where teams thrive, aligning technical and social-cultural excellence, and, most importantly, challenging the status quo of IT perceived as a cost.

But let’s address the big question:

“What’s the biggest roadblock to scaling digital excellence in IT investments?”

It’s not your tools, your frameworks, or even your budget. The real issue lies in your conventional approach—an approach that has consistently proven to fail across the board.

Transforming organizations isn’t about sprinkling buzzwords like Agile, DevOps, Cloud, AI into conversations—it’s about rethinking the very foundation of how you and your organization align people, processes, and purpose.

Leading the Charge in Digital Evolution: Your Voice Matters 🎙️

I’m thrilled to announce the launch of a new podcast format based on a white paper I’m crafting—a culmination of 14 years of research into what makes digital transformations fail or succeed.

🎯 The goal? To spark a real conversation with C-level executives, private equity portfolio managers, venture capital portfolio leaders, and board members.

🤔 Why them? Because when digital transformations fail, the fallout isn’t just technical—it’s organizational. And far too often, these key decision-makers are either left out of the conversation or alienated by domain-specific jargon.

This white paper and related podcast will tackle that head-on:

Bridging the gap between technical teams and leadership. Making the language of transformation accessible and actionable. Uncovering the blind spots that sabotage digital evolution.

📝 And the white paper? It’s more than just theory—it’s a practical blueprint for surviving digital disruption. Packed with real-world cases from our research, it sheds light on what it takes to navigate chaos and thrive in a volatile digital landscape. Some stories showcase success, while others reveal the costly consequences of clinging to transformation over embracing evolution.

🚀 We’re gearing up with our CMO to launch this campaign in January, but here’s the deal—if this resonates with you, if you’re a leader battling these very challenges, or someone eager to shape this conversation, don’t wait! 🌟 Your voice matters, and this is your chance to be part of something that could redefine how we tackle digital disruption. Let’s connect and make an impact together! 💡🎙️

🙌 Know someone who could benefit from our white paper or has valuable expertise to share💬? Tag them in the comments below! Let’s build a stronger, smarter network to tackle these challenges head-on. 🌐

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