Blockbuster laughed at Netflix’s streaming idea. Now, guess who’s still standing? Here’s how Netflix changed entertainment forever.
What if your “crazy” idea could change an entire industry?
That’s exactly what happened when Netflix made the bold move to pivot to streaming in 2007. At the time, it seemed absurd, and Blockbuster, the king of movie rentals, didn’t take them seriously. Now, Netflix is a household name, while Blockbuster is a distant memory.
Here’s how it all went down.
In the early 2000s, Netflix was just a DVD rental service, struggling to gain traction against Blockbuster’s dominance. Netflix even approached Blockbuster for a partnership, only to be laughed out of the room. But Netflix had a vision, and in 2007, they took a wild gamble—they pivoted from DVDs to streaming content directly to users’ homes.
At the time, streaming seemed like a niche idea. The internet wasn’t as fast or widespread, and people still loved their DVDs. But Netflix stuck with it, betting that the future of entertainment was online. They were right. As streaming caught on, Netflix became the go-to platform, leaving Blockbuster and traditional rental models in the dust.
The lesson?
What seems like a crazy idea today might be the next big thing tomorrow. Netflix’s bold pivot didn’t just disrupt an industry—it redefined how we all consume entertainment. Sometimes, being willing to take a radical leap is what sets you apart from the competition.
Is It Time for a Bold Move?
Think about this:
Are there “crazy” ideas you’ve been dismissing that could disrupt your industry?
What’s one bold move your business could make to get ahead of the competition?
How can you embrace future trends today, even if they seem niche or risky?
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