Last week marked the passing of an American institution; Senator Edward Kennedy. As President, his older brother John gave us a vision of Camelot.  His other brother Robert showed us great passion and determination – first as John’s Attorney General and then as a Senator from New York.

Ted Kennedy, the youngest and only brother left, combined the two and gave the American people results.

Agree with Ted Kennedy’s politics or not – there is no denying his legacy as an extraordinarily effective legislator.

Among his colleagues, he was respected by friend and foe alike.

Through the stories we’ve heard from the people he touched – family, friends, and people from every walk of life – we’ve also learned that he was loved.  And it seems particularly true for many victims of personal and/or national tragedies such as 9/11 or those who felt disaffected by the ‘system’.

Every day, our national and state legislative bodies demonstrate how few, if any, Ted Kennedy’s are left.  Leaders focused on productivity vs. power. Who encourage actual progress vs. those who toy with it.

When things change slowly over time, it is hard to notice the change.  When change is abrupt, the difference can be jolting.

The impact Ted Kennedy had will be somewhat more appreciated now that he’s gone.  Simply put, fewer items of importance will get done.  But since legislative productivity has been degrading slowly for a long time now, the danger is that it will feel just the same as it always has to most of us.

Much the same has happened to an enormous lot of long-established businesses.  Ones that have enjoyed great success, often for decades.

As time passed, business growth stopped. Then performance remained flat. And finally, sales and profits dropped.  And continue to drop.  The progression probably wasn’t as jolting as it should have been because it happened slowly. The jolt only happened in the last few years or months.

Did this type of change creep up on your business? And if so, now that many customers have gone or stay away, what will you do?

Posted by: Steve Banis