The Disease of More

"The disease of more" is a term coined by basketball coach Pat Riley to describe the downfall of winning teams. He observed that after a championship, players would often become complacent and lose focus on the fundamentals that made them successful in the first place. They would get caught up in endorsements, media attention, and other distractions.

This concept applies directly to business. When a company achieves a certain level of success, it can be tempting to chase "more" – more revenue, more employees, more market share. This often leads to a loss of focus on what made the business successful in the first place.

The "disease of more" can manifest as:

• Premature scaling: Growing too quickly without a solid foundation.
• Loss of focus: Chasing too many opportunities at once.
• Ego-driven decisions: Making choices based on pride rather than sound business strategy.
• Forgetting the customer: Losing touch with the needs of the people who made you successful.

The antidote to the disease of more is to focus on being better, not just bigger. A _Company of One resists the temptation of "more" and instead focuses on continuous improvement and sustainable growth.