Telegrams

Last week the Indian-government-run telegraph service which was, once upon a time, the primary form of communication across the nation, was shut down. At its peak, less than three decades ago, a network of 45,000 telegraph offices served the nation. Last week, there were only 75 offices left. The service, like many others, was the victim of the digital age. In the end, the service was more of a nostalgic relic of a time when communication was slow and steady with no such thing as instantaneous delivery and response. A few weeks ago, I also commented on the demise of National Envelope, another artifact of the past. I highlight these not only because they are interesting, but they are also a reminder that businesses need to stay alert to emerging trends. They are moving at warp speed and can be incredible tools to facilitate communication and other leverage points. Ignoring them can undermine a business if leadership does not move rapidly to adapt.

Tony LoPinto