Organization Change is a Strategic Conflict

"The true story of change is that of strategic conflict between that alternative future state and the status quo. There are always sources of power keeping the status quo in place and that's where the battle lies. As long as those sources of power remain, nothing will ever change." - Greg 
Satell.

This is an insightful perspective on how change actually happens in the real world, as opposed to idealized narratives. A few key points stand out to me:

1. The "hero's journey" framing of change, while inspiring, doesn't reflect the true challenges and dynamics involved in driving substantive transformation. It paints change as primarily an individual, internal struggle.

2. In reality, the status quo has inertia and is upheld by entrenched power structures and institutions. Any transformative change inevitably comes into strategic conflict with these forces invested in maintaining the current state. 

3. To achieve change, it's critical to analyze and understand the specific sources of power that are keeping the status quo in place. Only by identifying these can one develop an effective strategy.

4. Change requires more than just individual righteousness and effort. It demands intelligently targeting and influencing the institutions and power centers that are the real obstacles. The goal is to weaken or remove their ability to sustain the status quo.

5. While less romantic than the hero's journey, this "power-mapping" approach reflects the realpolitik of how significant change is actually accomplished - through strategic contest with institutional forces.

I think this makes an important point - that real transformative change is achieved not through personal heroics, but through coolly strategic action to reshape power structures and alliances. It's a helpful reality check for anyone seeking to drive substantive change in the world. 

The key is to focus less on individual struggle, and more on analyzing and engaging with the institutional ecosystem preserving the status quo. Only by operating at that level can transformation be realized.

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