Good, bad or indifferent, if you are not investing in new

Hear now the words of Philip Green, who declared with clarity and warning: “Good, bad or indifferent, if you are not investing in new technology, you are going to be left behind.” Though brief, this utterance carries the thunder of inevitability. It speaks to the relentless tide of progress, a river that does not halt for hesitation, nor turn back for the sake of nostalgia. Whether we approve of it or not, whether we fear it or celebrate it, the march of invention advances, and those who will not step forward are trampled underfoot.

When Green speaks of good, bad or indifferent, he points to the futility of clinging to judgment alone. The new age does not wait for our approval. Fire itself was once feared as destructive, yet those who learned to harness it thrived, while those who shunned it shivered in the cold. So it is with all technology: it may bless or curse, but it cannot be ignored. To stand aside is to choose defeat. To engage with discernment is to shape destiny.

The call to invest is not merely about gold or coin, but about devotion of time, attention, and courage. To invest in technology is to sow seeds in the soil of tomorrow, trusting that they will bear fruit. Those who withhold their hands will watch others reap the harvest while they themselves go hungry. In the realm of business, of nations, of individuals, this law is unbreakable: neglect of progress leads to decline, but bold engagement leads to survival and growth.

Let us remember the tale of Kodak, once a giant that ruled the kingdom of photography. For decades it prospered, yet when the age of digital images dawned, its leaders turned their faces away, clinging to the profits of the past. They did not invest in the new technology that was rising before their very eyes. In time, others seized the future, and Kodak, though mighty, was cast down into ruin. This story is not about cameras alone; it is a parable of all who choose comfort over adaptation, safety over vision.

Yet contrast this with the story of Japan after the Second World War. A nation shattered by defeat, its cities burned, its people impoverished, it had every reason to despair. And yet, with discipline and vision, it turned to technology. It invested in electronics, in manufacturing, in innovation, and within a few decades, the world looked upon Japan as a symbol of rebirth and power. Thus is proven the truth of Green’s words: those who embrace progress, even from ashes, rise again with renewed strength.

The meaning, then, is clear. To avoid being left behind, one must not resist the new age, but meet it with open eyes and steady hands. This does not mean surrendering blindly to every invention, for not all that glitters is wise. But it does mean discerning what tools will shape the future and preparing oneself to wield them with skill. Progress is a river: build your vessel and sail upon it, or stand idle upon the bank until its waters have swept your world away.

Therefore, O listener, the lesson for your life is thus: do not shrink from the unfamiliar. Learn the new skills, explore the new tools, and embrace the changes that shape your craft and your world. Let not fear bind you to yesterday, for yesterday is already gone. Instead, with courage, invest in the future, so that when the tides of change come—as they always do—you may ride upon them instead of drowning beneath them.

In this way, Philip Green’s words echo like a trumpet across the ages: technology will advance, whether we will it or not. Only those who prepare, adapt, and dare to grow shall endure. Remember this truth, and you shall not be among the forgotten, but among those who stand tall in the new dawn. Invest in the future, or be left behind.