Short-term vs Long-term - The I.G.Y. Foundation

Patience is a product of confidence and trust

In our opinion, (reasoned) confidence, (deserved/earned) trust and (resultant) patience is what seems to be lacking in so many business, charity and political ecosystems. The table above contains a list of short-term characteristics and their long-term alternatives.

It seems to Zak and me that for most companies to thrive over the long-term, one constituency must be looked after before all others and, contrary to what some on Wall Street or in Westminster may suggest, that constituency is the customer.

better products lead to happy customers, lead to more cash flow, to better products, to more customers and so on, with all parties enjoying and benefitting from a growing ecosystem of win-win relationships. It’s hard to do and takes patience, and a certain orientation and discipline but, when it works, it is a beautiful (and very profitable) model.