Status Quo: What it Really Means

I have heard people use Status Quo so much in the last few years that I am beginning to equate it to a food one has so much of, they simply cannot eat again… at least for a few years anyway. As of late, politicians have been using this word ad nauseum, thereby diminishing any real value the word originally instilled. Furthermore, most use the word incorrectly to begin with. In the simplest sense, status quo is referring to the current state of affairs, or the way things are now. Simple, no?

So, if the current state of affairs is in need of refining, which many will argue always is, then why would one that is trying to change the existing state set out to make it more complicated? The notion of changing the present is to make the future simpler and more efficient, otherwise whats the point? The mark of true intelligence is the ability to take a complex system, break it down into smaller systems, reengineer said system, and present the new system in clear, simple language that everyone can understand in as few lines as possible. No matter how complex the system is, the documentation supporting the system should never be over three pages in length. This is not to say all sub-objects are expressed on three pages, rather the three pages contains all the information one should need to make an informed decision. In essence, an executive summary or abstract.

In my line of work–business and IT consulting–most businesses publish long, inflated, generic, and often plagiarized brochures and supporting documentation about why you should choose their company over a competitor. When I look for a subcontractor or vendor, one of the first questions I ask is: what makes you or your company so special? Frankly, I could care less about what they say and more about how they approach the question. Some thought needs to be put into their response. I do not want to hear the standard sales pitch that has been rehearsed and regurgitated time and time again. I want honest and direct discourse: pointing out all the pros and all the cons. More specifically, I am looking for someone that is honest about themselves, flaws and all. When I am addressing new leads, the first thing I say is my organizing is not the right fit for everyone. Here is what we do, here is what we are good at, here is what we’re not… oh, and by the way; we are not changing.

Our services speak for themselves and our clients do the speaking and advertising for us. We do not have an advertising budget. Our business comes directly from word of mouth. Why pay for advertising when your client base does it for you? This tells the potential new client that obviously we are good at what we do.

So, be yourself, flaws and all and clients will appreciate it. No one is perfect so stop trying to be. You simply show everyone you’re a dishonest person that is concealing facts and has something to hide… or maybe you’re delusional.

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