Curious about Continuity: What Does this Mean in Your Life, Business and Internet Marketing?

Definition of Continuity: the state of being continuous; uninterupted connection or succession; close union of parts; cohesion; as, the continuity of fibers.

“The thing is, continuity of strategic direction and continuous improvement in how you do things are absolutely consistent with each other. In fact, they're mutually reinforcing.” – Michael Porter, American educator

“Man has always needed to believe in some form of a continuity of achievement.” - Robert Vaughn, American actor

I chose the word “Continuity” for this week’s blog because it is all over the Internet now. Why and What do those using it mean? Continuity refers to paid and usually monthly membership sites, forums, newsletters, training back offices, mastermind groups, and any other site or setup where you are enrolled and pay on a regular and continuous basis.

Continuity programs offer advantages to the enrollee(s) and to the owner(s) because of the cohesion and close union of parts. They create strong communities and those who take advantage of membership receive the benefits of in depth learning, sharing of special information and cost effective coaching.

The owner(s) also benefit financially because of the regular – usually monthly – income, which grows as more and more enrollees join. Think of it as a gym or club membership where those who take advantage of the facilities pay an on-going fee. Generally, if a member wants to drop out, it is merely involves a call or fax to the group. However, there is little attrition as long as the benefits are strong.

Of course, I did find many interesting quotations that involved continuity, but weren’t related to the programs I have just described. Here are a few:

• “Vision is perhaps our greatest strength... it has kept us alive to the power and continuity of thought through the centuries, it makes us peer into the future and lends shape to the unknown.” - Li Ka Shing, Chinese businessman
• “The little religion that I have clung to - that what matters most is the continuity of life, and its improvement from one generation to another.” - David O. Selznick, American producer
• “If you associate enough with older people who do enjoy their lives, who are not stored away in any golden ghettos, you will gain a sense of continuity and of the possibility for a full life.” - Tom Stoppard, English dramatist
• “For many of us, sport has provided the continuity in our lives, the alternative family to the one we left behind. It gives us something to talk about, to preen about, to care about.” - John Thorn, American historian
• “Identity in the form of continuity of personality is an extremely important characteristic of the individual.” - Kenneth L. Pike, American sociologist
• “Continuity does not rule out fresh approaches to fresh situations.” - Dean Rusk, American diplomat

And one more from Michael Porter, American educator, who had several of the best quotations: “Finally, strategy must have continuity. It can't be constantly reinvented.”

And, if you have had or presently have interaction with a continuity program, let us know how it is working for you.