【商業智慧】Netflix聯合創辦人黑斯廷斯：「很少有企業因行動過快而死亡，往往是因為其動作過慢而被淘汰」 Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings: Companies rarely die from moving too fast, and they frequently die from moving too slowly

在節奏急速的商業世界中，積極主動地適應變化對緊貼市場至關重要。Netflix聯合創辦人兼前行政總裁黑斯廷斯（Reed Hastings）深諳此道，他曾言道：「很少有企業因行動過快而死亡，往往是因為其動作過慢而被淘汰」，那些緩慢地適應市場變化的企業終將被市場淘汰。

在Netflix發展初期，黑斯廷斯親身經歷過，並明白到保持主動和適應變化具有重要性。當初，Netflix主要業務是提供郵寄DVD服務，與行業龍頭Blockbuster競爭。然而，黑斯廷斯認為娛樂行業的未來在於串流平台，而Netflix則需要轉型以保持競爭力。

因此，Netflix在2007年推出了串流平台服務，但當時卻遭受行業專家的質疑和批評。儘管如此，黑斯廷斯相信串流平台具發展潛力，並冒著風險進行投資。隨著Netflix迅速果斷地進軍串流平台領域，它取得了市場領導地位，對比競爭者明顯擁有優勢。現時，Netflix已經是香港最為人熟悉的串流平台，截至2023年，全球訂閱用戶達到2.3億。

相反，Blockbuster未能適應消費者的轉變，對串流平台的崛起反應過慢，當公司嘗試推出自己的串流平台服務時，一切都已經太遲了，最終被市場淘汰，甚至破產。

黑斯廷斯認為，企業必須願意冒險，迅速對市場變化作出反應，才能繼續生存和發展。任何企業只有保持靈活，不怕嘗試，最後才能成功。

In the fast-paced world of business, it's crucial to be proactive and adapt to changes quickly in order to stay relevant. Reed Hastings, the co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, knew this firsthand. In his quote, "Companies rarely die from moving too fast, and they frequently die from moving too slowly," he suggests that businesses that are slow to adapt to market changes risk becoming irrelevant and eventually failing.

Hastings has personally experienced the importance of being proactive and adaptive in the early days of Netflix. Initially, Netflix primarily operated as a DVD-by-mail service, competing with the dominant player, Blockbuster. However, Hastings recognized that the future of entertainment lay in streaming video and understood that Netflix needed to pivot to stay relevant.

Thus, in 2007, Netflix launched its streaming service, which faced skepticism and criticism from industry experts. Nonetheless, Hastings believed in the potential of streaming and took a calculated risk on it. By moving quickly and decisively into streaming, Netflix established itself as a leader in the space and gained a significant advantage over its competitors. Netflix is now one of the most renowned streaming platforms in Hong Kong, and as of 2023, its global subscriber base has reached 230.7 million.

In contrast, Blockbuster failed to adapt to changing consumer preferences and moved too slowly in response to the rise of streaming. When Blockbuster eventually attempted to launch its own streaming service, it was too little, too late, and the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy.

Hastings believes that businesses must be willing to take calculated risks and move quickly in response to changes in the market in order to survive and thrive. Businesses should be agile, unafraid to experiment, and continuously iterate to remain competitive and successful.