Lately, the global economy has indeed been rather interesting. With the global stock market still booming, it’s somewhat debatable whether we’re in a downturn or an upswing, but there is definite tension in the air.
When the going gets tough (or at least interesting), we humans tend to resort to safe ways of doing things. When navigating rocky waters, we try to play it safe. We stick to traditional methods, tested tools, and familiar faces.
There’s strong logic to it — if these methods have brought us this far, maybe they can take us even further. So, let’s not rock the boat too much… and we might just be able to make it. Unless we won’t.
Intuitively, things seem clear. But are they really?
Let’s be rational for a moment. Should we actually stop innovating and looking for better tools when the economy is uncertain? Absolutely, fundamentally NO. Everyone knows the right answer here. Survival requires change.
We’re having mixed signals at this point.
What should we do then?
The thing is, innovation is always connected to risk. Without taking risks, you aren’t inventing anything. And this is precisely where user-centricity comes into play. During safer times, user-centricity is often mistaken for an altruistic mindset that enables us to build nice things for nice people. Which is nice.
But what user-centricity is really about is risk mitigation. It’s not just about inventing. It’s not just about design. It’s not just about empathy. It’s not even just about being nice.
User-centricity is about risk mitigation and self-preservation. It’s about innovating while keeping things safe. Knowing where you’re headed before going all-in. Knowing, not assuming. Relying on facts, not intuition.
User-centricity brings peace of mind, enabling you to innovate safely. So, ultimately, it’s not just about risk mitigation – it’s about winning the race.
There, we said it. It’s about profit.