The 3 “C” Formula of an Enduring Firm


Amar Pandit
A respected entrepreneur with 25+ years of Experience, Amar Pandit is the Founder of several companies that are making a Happy difference in the lives of people. He is currently the Founder of Happyness Factory, a world-class online investment & goal-based financial planning platform through which he aims to help every Indian family save and invest wisely. He is very passionate about spreading financial literacy and is the author of 4 bestselling books (+ 2 more to release in 2020), 8 Sketch Books, Board Game and 700 + columns.

February 12, 2021 | 2 Minute Read
There are many variables attributed to success; however, I believe there are three critical C’s that are foundational if you want to build a business that survives and thrives beyond you (for several hundred years). The same applies if you want to thrive as a professional too.
The 3 C’s are Simple, and I pose them as questions for you to think.
- Culture
What is the culture in your organization? Every organization has a culture even when they have not defined it explicitly. We do not pay enough attention to this at the start and even as we grow as we think it is irrelevant. Peter Drucker had said “Culture eats Strategy for Breakfast”. Uber had a very toxic culture, and this led to the ouster of ex-CEO Travis Kalanick.
Ask these questions “Do I/we have a culture to experiment? Do we have a culture of high quality?” There are several questions that you can ask on this front and start by defining the culture you want to build. - Change
Do you see change as an opportunity or Do you see change as a risk?
I have written on this topic previously that one of your key roles should be that of a Chief Change Officer. Change will happen and the firms that embrace and adapt to change will thrive. Think about the change that has happened in your personal and professional life over the last 30 years. How has it impacted you?
In early 2000, Blockbuster, the biggest video rental business in the US, had the opportunity to buy a small company for a pittance. Blockbuster refused as they did not see Change coming. The Blockbuster CEO and Board thought they were too strong to fail and the business who had come to them was too small. The Business was Netflix, and it was the best performing stock of the last decade. On the other hand, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy in 2010. - Competitive Advantage
What is the source of your competitive advantage? Is it still relevant? If not, what are you doing to gain competitive advantage? I will leave you to ponder over these questions but first you must also think about who your real competition is. Most firms in our industry have no clear understanding of their competition or competitive advantage. Everyone is not your competition. If you think everyone is, then you are highly mistaken and are missing on opportunities to collaborate for scale.
To sum up, you and your business need all these 3 Cs to thrive in the decades ahead.

Similar Post
Nano Learning
Signing Up versus Showing Up
Signing up is easy but Showing up every day is the most difficult part and drives your performance. For example, Signing up for the gym is easy but showing up every day at the gym ....Read More
28 August, 2020 | 2 Minute Read
Nano Learning
An Exercise for every Financial Professional
Take a Pen and Pad. I am waiting. Now sit down and write down the following questions. 1. What are the Top 3 reasons you wake up every morning? Yes, you can call this your goals. ....Read More
25 December, 2020 | 2 Minute Read
Nano Learning
The King in You
In his book “The Leadership Handbook”, Author John C Maxwell wrote an interesting anecdote. “One day, Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin wh ....Read More
2 June, 2023 | 2 Minute Read
Nano Learning
The Dare
Seneca, the Stoic Philosopher said these golden words – It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.
16 September, 2022 | 0 Minute Read
Nano Learning
This Number will determine your success
While the previous Nano “The BH Formula” focused on the formula for success, this Nano will simply give a Number for Success. What do you think this number is? Can you take a ....Read More
1 July, 2022 | 2 Minute Read
Nano Learning
The Demonstration of our Value
I was addressing a group of US RIAs last week on the HappyRich concept. One of the questions that came up was around the value of a financial professional. I thought my response wi ....Read More
28 May, 2021 | 3 Minute Read
- 0
- 0
0 Comments