[Verse 1] The quarterly reviews are calling again Numbers must shine for the board meeting's end Strategy waits while the budget's in play Three-year horizons push ten-year plans away We know the market is shifting its ground But funding cycles keep us budget-bound [Chorus] Budget cycle pathology Makes us blind to what we need to see Short-term wins over long-term gains Near and legible, that's what remains Underinvest in what takes time to grow Resist the pivots that we need to know Budget cycle pathology Trapping giants in bureaucracy [Verse 2] The research lab needs seven years to pay But budgets only fund through fiscal May We choose the project with the quickest shine While breakthrough innovations fall behind The CEO knows where the future leads But quarterly pressure plants different seeds [Chorus] Budget cycle pathology Makes us blind to what we need to see Short-term wins over long-term gains Near and legible, that's what remains Underinvest in what takes time to grow Resist the pivots that we need to know Budget cycle pathology Trapping giants in bureaucracy [Bridge] Stranded investments from the years before Drive tomorrow's choices more and more We can't admit the past was wrong So we keep singing the same old song Sunk costs whisper "stay the course" While the world changes without remorse [Verse 3] The data shows we need to change our way But changing means last year's spend won't pay Strategic pivots look like failure's mark When budget cycles keep us in the dark The junior analyst can see it clear But cycles make the obvious disappear [Chorus] Budget cycle pathology Makes us blind to what we need to see Short-term wins over long-term gains Near and legible, that's what remains Underinvest in what takes time to grow Resist the pivots that we need to know Budget cycle pathology Trapping giants in bureaucracy [Outro] Break the cycle, think in decades not in years Face the future, set aside budgetary fears Strategy first, then make the money follow Or watch competitors steal tomorrow
← 3 Metric Capture and Proxy Substitution | 5 Discussion Questions →