Successfully navigating disruption timelines requires different strategies for each phase:
Shock Phase Strategy: Observe and Prepare - Resist immediate action unless survival demands it - Gather information from multiple sources - Begin scenario planning for various outcomes - Preserve resources for later deployment
Scramble Phase Strategy: Analyze and Position - Study what everyone else is doing—then do something different - Identify second-order problems others are creating - Build relationships with potential partners - Test small experiments without major commitment
Adaptation Phase Strategy: Design and Test - Develop solutions for problems now becoming clear - Leverage lessons from first-wave failures - Build minimum viable offerings - Focus on genuine value creation over quick profits
Acceleration Phase Strategy: Scale and Capture - Move aggressively on proven concepts - Invest resources saved during earlier phases - Build barriers to entry through relationships and reputation - Document and systematize successful processes
Consolidation Phase Strategy: Fortify and Expand - Strengthen positions gained during acceleration - Explore adjacent opportunities - Build institutional relationships - Prepare for next disruption cycle