By Chris Heivly, Managing Director at Build The Fort and Startup Community EIR @ Techstars

We all know that change is inevitable. It’s happening all around us, all the time — technology advances, industries shift, and more importantly for startup communities — people come and go. Change is a given. But here’s the kicker: just because change is happening doesn’t mean progress is. Progress requires something more deliberate, more uncomfortable. It requires intent.

Many folks in positions of power crave stability, and that’s understandable. Stability feels safe. Predictable. In fact, most power brokers reach the zenith of their success by mastering predictable repeatability. It's one of the core elements of a complicated mindset.

In that mindset, we often see a tendency to create systems that churn out the same result over and over again. That can be a good thing... up to a point. But don’t confuse consistency with repeatability. Consistency is the rhythm that keeps the wheels turning. It’s the steady foundation that leaves room for progress. Progress, on the other hand, is that jolt that says, “Yeah, this works — but can we do it better?”

Think about your startup community. If you're running the same pitch event the same way every month for two years, sure, that’s consistent. But is it progress? Are you drawing new founders? Have the ideas improved? Has the crowd diversified? If not, it might be time for some controlled chaos — tiny experiments that test new formats, new partnerships, new incentives.

Progress doesn't have to be about wild reinvention. It’s about nudging the system. It’s putting little sparks in the engine of consistency to see what catches. You can — and should — have a consistent structure that gives people something to rely on. But within that structure, give yourself permission to play. Innovate. Test. Iterate.

This is especially true in places where community leaders are hesitant to "rock the boat." If you’re optimizing for zero turbulence, you’re not leading — you’re just managing. Leaders are the ones willing to push the envelope while still holding the envelope in their hands. They recognize that what worked last year might not work next year. And that’s okay.

So here’s the deal: embrace consistency, but don’t let it harden into stagnation. Celebrate stability, but inject experiments that seek to move the needle. 

Progress demands a little courage and a lot of intention. But when done right, it’s the kind of change that truly matters.

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