Heed the Warning

Leadership

They just couldn't keep up. Rolls-Royce had created an incredible engine that powered several of Britain's aircraft during World War II. Each one is handcrafted for precision and performance, capable of producing 1,000+ horsepower and excelling at high altitudes. They were beautiful machines, but they just couldn't be produced fast enough.

The US had several high-performing aircraft at low altitudes, but hadn't cracked the code for producing a fighter that could maintain power at mid-to-high altitudes. This left them extremely vulnerable in the skies on many fronts. The allies needed each other and went to work. Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, known for its large-scale engine manufacturing, had shifted almost all of its production to the war effort and was chosen to collaborate with Rolls-Royce in order to mass-produce its engine.

Having to completely overhaul everything from translating measurement scales, casting the engine block, and eliminating the custom manual fitting of parts without sacrificing quality, the task was daunting. It required completely different thinking. After about a year, they figured it out, increased production by 400+%, solving problems for both countries and helping the allies win the war. It was a remarkable achievement and wouldn't have happened without a bold shift from both parties.

"The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does." (Isaiah 8:11)

Thinking differently starts with the courage of admitting you need to.

Both the British and the Americans had to be honest about their weaknesses and create a team that could complement their strengths. They had to be willing to change and not accept the way they had always done it. They had to have the vision to create a process where speed and quality could be achieved together, and they had to commit to a standard where everything must be measurable and repeatable. A pretty great lesson for our business.

In the book of Isaiah, facing an attack on multiple fronts, the Lord told the Israelites that if they wanted to survive, they had to think differently. They had to trust Him and follow his lead, even though it made them uncomfortable and was a little scary. And as He always does, the Lord came through.

We don't have to compromise the result, only our thinking of how we get there. Speed and service DO go together. Innovation WILL enhance experience if done right. We have to see the problems in front of us and be willing to think differently about solving them- not just problems, but opportunities as well. See the opportunities to build a better business, create better habits, forge deeper relationships, and improve our lives and the lives of those around us. It just requires the courage to evaluate with honesty and to think differently.

The Lord has given us a strong warning not to think like everyone else. Will you heed that warning?