1. The Treadmill of Imitation: Moving Without Progress
In 2013, I found myself on a treadmill—not just any treadmill, but one that whispered sweet lies in my ear. At Asaleo Care, we were benchmarking sanitary napkin products like Libra and Tena against competitors. Benchmarking felt safe, but the treadmill promised false security:
“Stay with me,” it murmured. “Keep moving. You’re making progress.”
It felt true. I was sweating, moving, and working hard—so surely, I was getting somewhere, right? Except I wasn’t.
- The treadmill gave me motion but no progress.
- It rewarded the illusion of productivity, not real outcomes.
- While others were leaping ahead, I was stuck in place.
Yes, it feels productive. Yes, you’re working hard. But are you truly leading? Are you breaking free?
2. Why This Matters to You
Benchmarking Feels Safe, But It’s Holding You Back
Picture this:
- You’re running hard, sweat glistening, muscles alive, the treadmill humming beneath you.
- It flatters you with its steady rhythm: “Look how hard you’re working.”
But outside, trailblazers and true innovators are sprinting into open terrain, discovering opportunities you can’t see from your treadmill.
Here’s why this matters:
- Today, you can choose differently.
- Today, you can step off the treadmill and lead with innovation.
The contradiction is clear:
You’re not stuck because you’re standing still. You’re stuck because you won’t stop benchmarking without taking bold action.
3. The Hidden Costs of Staying on the Treadmill
What Happens If You Don’t Act?
Every moment spent benchmarking others:
- Locks you in imitation, not creation.
- Keeps you busy but blinds you to innovation.
- Allows competitors to lead where you could have excelled.
Opportunities don’t wait:
- While you refine yesterday’s benchmarks, others are claiming today’s breakthroughs.
- The cost isn’t just time—it’s lost leadership, lost visibility, and lost impact.
4. How to Lead with Innovation
Here’s where the game changes: stepping off the treadmill isn’t risky—it’s necessary.
The Steps to Break Free
- Stop Refining Outdated Benchmarks: Don’t just follow someone else’s achievements.
- Identify Unique Opportunities for Your Organization: Look where others aren’t looking.
- Take Actionable, Decisive Steps Toward Innovation: Focus on bold, forward-thinking solutions.
Innovation doesn’t ask you to move harder; it asks you to move smarter—today.
Imagine this:
- You step off the treadmill and onto real ground.
- It’s uneven, unpredictable—but alive with potential.
- Each step is yours, full of progress, not perfection.
5. Step Off the Treadmill: Your Next Move
Let me guess: you haven’t gotten around to making a decision yet.
Maybe you’re telling yourself:
- “I’ll look into it tomorrow.”
- “Now’s not the right time.”
Here’s What Happens If You Don’t Act:
- You stay locked on the treadmill, running in place while others surge ahead.
- The opportunities you see now? Someone else will take them.
- The breakthroughs you’re waiting for? They’ll pass you by.
Now Imagine the Alternative
You step off today.
- You take control of your progress.
- You stop benchmarking and start leading with innovation.
- You stand apart as competitors begin to benchmark against you.
6. Ready to Lead? Here’s What to Do Next
How open-minded are you to exploring what stepping off the treadmill could mean for your team or organization? (Click Here)
The treadmill is still humming. The question is:
Are you ready to silence it and step into a smarter, bolder tomorrow?
Because while others stay on the treadmill, trailblazers are already moving.
Your Choice: Benchmarking or Trailblazing?
Book to read : Click Here
