The
Survival
Paradox
Yesterday's post about staying small created a problem. How do you reconcile focus with adaptability? Here's what I discovered.
When Two Business Truths Seem to Contradict
Yesterday I published that post about staying small long enough to be good enough. The one where I talked about how rushing to scale too quickly can actually hurt your chances of long-term success.
But this morning, something was bugging me. I kept thinking about that famous quote everyone attributes to Charles Darwin: "It's not the strongest or most intelligent that survive, but those most adaptable to change."
And suddenly I had this uncomfortable realization: these two ideas seem to completely contradict each other.
The Contradiction: One says focus. One says adapt. Both claim to be the path to success. But they can't both be right, can they?
The Quotes That Started This Rabbit Hole
Quote 1 from yesterday's post:
Stay small long enough to be good enough to succeed.
Translation: Focus, specialize, get really good at one thing.
Quote 2, the "Darwin" quote:
It's not the strongest or most intelligent that survive, but those most adaptable to change.
Translation: Be flexible, adapt constantly, don't get locked into one approach.
Wait... what? One says focus. One says adapt. Both claim to be the path to success. But they can't both be right, can they?
The Problem This Created in My Head
As I was drinking my morning coffee, this contradiction really started bothering me. Because in plumbing - and probably in your business too - there are so many different directions you can go: Emergency repairs, bathroom installations, boiler work, commercial contracts, new builds, maintenance routes.
The "stay small and focused" advice says: Pick one. Get really good at it. Don't spread yourself thin.
The "adaptability" advice says: Be ready to pivot. Take opportunities as they come. Don't get locked into one narrow lane.
So which is it?
- If I stay small and focused, am I missing opportunities to adapt?
- If I stay adaptable, am I never getting good enough at any one thing to really succeed?
It felt like I was stuck between two competing truths, and both seemed to have merit.
The Research That Changed Everything
Here's where it gets interesting. I started digging into that Darwin quote because something felt off about it. Turns out - and this surprised me - Darwin never actually said it.
The closest he came was in "On the Origin of Species" where he wrote about species that are "most fitted to their environment" surviving. But that famous quote about adaptability? It's a modern paraphrase that's taken on a life of its own.
But here's the thing - even though Darwin didn't say it, the principle still rings true for business. And that's when I realized I was looking at this all wrong.
The Breakthrough: It's Not Either/Or
The contradiction disappeared when I stopped thinking about these as competing philosophies and started seeing them as different phases of the same journey.
Think About It This Way
The Darwin principle - adaptability - is about survival. The focus principle - specialization - is about success. And here's the kicker - you need to survive first before you can succeed.
Phase 1: Survival (Adaptability)
- • Take any plumbing work that pays the bills
- • Learn multiple skills across different niches
- • Stay flexible to market demands
- • Build cash flow and experience
Phase 2: Strategic Focus (Specialization)
- • Identify your highest-value, most enjoyable niche
- • Gradually shift toward specialization
- • Maintain some flexibility but with clear direction
- • Scale the profitable work, phase out the marginal
Real Examples That Made It Click
Once I saw it this way, examples were everywhere:
Ray Kroc (McDonald's)
Before McDonald's, he adapted constantly. Piano player, ambulance driver, milkshake machine salesman. His adaptability kept him alive long enough to find his golden opportunity. Then he focused obsessively on perfecting the McDonald's system.
James Dyson
Spent 15 years adapting, failing, learning. Created 5,126 failed prototypes. But once he found his breakthrough vacuum design, he focused everything on perfecting and scaling that one innovation.
Your Typical Successful Tradesperson
Starts by taking any work that pays the bills - adaptability for survival. Gradually identifies what they're best at and enjoy most. Then shifts focus toward that niche while maintaining enough flexibility to capitalize on opportunities.
The Practical Framework
So how do you know which phase you're in and what to do about it?
When to Adapt vs. When to Focus
Stay Adaptive If:
- • You're still figuring out what works
- • Cash flow is inconsistent
- • You haven't found your sweet spot yet
- • The market is teaching you lessons
Start Focusing When:
- • You've identified what you're best at
- • You have more demand than capacity
- • Your reputation in a niche is growing
- • You can charge premium prices
Warning Signs You've Gone Too Far Either Way
Over-Adaptation Warning Signs:
- • You're mediocre at everything
- • Customers see you as generic
- • You're always competing on price
- • No clear business identity
Over-Focus Warning Signs:
- • Market shifts leave you behind
- • One bad client review kills you
- • Economic changes devastate you
- • No growth opportunities visible
The Sweet Spot: T-Shaped Skills
The goal isn't to choose one or the other permanently. It's to develop what business strategists call "T-shaped skills":
- Horizontal bar (adaptability): Broad competence across your industry
- Vertical bar (focus): Deep specialization in your chosen niche
What This Means for Rosebourne Plumbing
Looking back, I can see both phases clearly in my own journey. Early years: took any plumbing work that came my way. Learned residential, commercial, emergency work, installations, repairs. That adaptability kept me alive and taught me the trade.
Now: I focus primarily on residential bathroom refurbishments and quality installations. But I maintain enough adaptability to handle emergency work and take on interesting projects that expand my skills.
The difference is that now my adaptation is strategic, not desperate. I'm not taking any work that comes along - I'm selecting opportunities that either reinforce my core focus or teach me something valuable.
The Resolution
There's no contradiction after all. You need adaptability to survive long enough to find your niche, then strategic focus to dominate that niche. The key is knowing which phase you're in and adapting your strategy accordingly.
Both quotes are right - they're just talking about different stages of the same successful journey.
Continue the Journey
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The original post that started this whole journey - why patience beats rapid scaling.
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