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Kodak: From 90% Market Share to Bankruptcy - Episode 2
Published 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Description
What happens when a company invents the future… and then chooses not to embrace it?
That’s the story of Kodak.
At its peak, Kodak didn’t just lead the photography industry, it owned it. Nearly 90% market share. A business model that printed money. A brand so strong it became part of everyday language. The “Kodak moment” wasn’t just marketing, it was culture.
They even had songs written about them. Kodachrome by Paul Simon celebrated the vivid colors of their film. That’s how deeply embedded they were.
And yet… Kodak invented the digital camera in 1975. They saw exactly where the future was going. And they hesitated.
In this episode of Reluctant Lessons: Where Businesses Go Wrong, I break down how one of the most dominant companies in history lost its position, not because it lacked innovation, but because it chose to protect what made it successful.
This isn’t just a story about film and cameras. It’s about decision-making when everything seems to be working. Because that’s when the real test begins.
Are you building for what is… or preparing for what’s coming next?
That’s the story of Kodak.
At its peak, Kodak didn’t just lead the photography industry, it owned it. Nearly 90% market share. A business model that printed money. A brand so strong it became part of everyday language. The “Kodak moment” wasn’t just marketing, it was culture.
They even had songs written about them. Kodachrome by Paul Simon celebrated the vivid colors of their film. That’s how deeply embedded they were.
And yet… Kodak invented the digital camera in 1975. They saw exactly where the future was going. And they hesitated.
In this episode of Reluctant Lessons: Where Businesses Go Wrong, I break down how one of the most dominant companies in history lost its position, not because it lacked innovation, but because it chose to protect what made it successful.
This isn’t just a story about film and cameras. It’s about decision-making when everything seems to be working. Because that’s when the real test begins.
Are you building for what is… or preparing for what’s coming next?