May and Change

The month of May is a time of change for many young people. It ends one grade and the movement to another. It can mean the end of High School and movement on to trade school or college. It can mean movement into the world of vocation. For some, it will mean new explorations in relationships and family. Change is in the air.

In 1908, Henry Ford created his remarkable route to personal profit with his revolutionary hand-cranked Model T “Tin Lizzie,” which sold for $825. By 1914, because of Ford’s production line, the car price dropped to $206. His Model T, which came in every color so long as it was black, achieved a 60 percent market share, and in 17 years 10 million cars were sold.

However, Henry Ford very nearly sat at the table too long, holding losing cards.

In the 1920s, the car market changed. General Motors offered new cars at competitive prices with conveniences that the Model T lacked — like an electric starter. Suddenly this novelty starter took on the characteristics of a desirable consumer product. 1920s drivers demanded conveniences.

Ford would not let go. Once when he returned from a vacation he found his engineers had updated a Tin Lizzie. Ford stomped in its roof and kicked out its windshield.

Finally, sales sputtered and Ford faced reality. He did not change just its color or its name — he changed tactics. In May 1927, Ford stopped the Model T’s production. He closed his factory for six months, retooled and then produced the Model A. The Model A was a winning hand. He still produced personal motorized transportation, but by abandoning the tried and true and experimenting with something new, Ford succeeded in recapturing the market.

When successful and beloved products fail, it is time to let go.

Practical and tactical innovation is key to any church that preaches Christ. Change not for change alone, but with one eye to improvement and the other to our real purpose, our real reason, for doing what we do as church.

Henry Ford built cars. When his car did not sell, he changed everything — except he still built and sold cars, only better ones. Nike builds shoes. When sales fell, they changed marketing, not tactics. Unfortunately, that is not enough.

Let go. Focus on the essential. Try a few things. See what works.