Our Trademark: The Second Curve

A sudden shift of assumptions and beliefs giving birth to the second curve dictates it will not be a simple transition or evolution, but instead a discontinuous, dramatic reform likely to be experienced as revolutionary. – Ian Morrison, The Second Curve: Managing The Velocity of Change

To put it another way, Einstein said, “Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.” Einstein was referring to a paradigm shift later coined by Morrison as the second curve. A paradigm shift for individuals and organizations is neither linear nor incremental, it is dynamic and implies a radically new way of thinking.

After experiencing success in the first curve (paradigm), both individuals and organizations can experience stagnation in growth and productivity. At this point, the tendency is to go back to the basics, reverting to traditional practices. The belief is that the same practices that contributed to an individual or an organization’s current level of success will ultimately have the same impact on their future success. However, the future growth depends upon the individual or organization’s ability to successfully transition to the second curve (paradigm shift) and such a transition can be challenging, even detrimental. CTI helps you see the possibilities in your transition to a second curve.