“First there is just one lily pad in a corner of the pond. But every day the number of lily pads doubles. It takes 30 days to fill the pond, but for the first 28 days, no one even notices. Suddenly, on the 29th day, the pond is half full of lily pads and the villagers become concerned. But by this time there is little that can be done. The next day their worst fears have come true. That’s why environmental dangers are so worrisome, especially those that follow reinforcing patterns. By the time the problem is noticed, it may be too late. Extinctions of species often follow patterns of slow, gradual accelerating decline over long time periods, then rapidly collapse. So do the extinctions of corporations.”

Book: The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge

http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000SEIFKK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl…