Wolfgang's Law - Part Two

Superior innovations frequently languish for decades due to institutional inertia, even when their advantages are empirically proven. Whether in cardiac surgery or urban crime prevention, the shift from traditional, individual-centric methods to complex, team-based approaches requires a fundamental change in professional identity that many practitioners resist. Cardiac surgeon John Puskas illustrates this by comparing the transition to minimally invasive surgery—a team-oriented process—to moving from tennis to soccer. Similarly, the slow adoption of focused deterrence in cities like Baltimore highlights how established leaders often cling to ineffective status quos. Ultimately, meaningful progress is rarely achieved through the persuasion of the old guard; instead, it relies on generational turnover, confirming the principle that advancement often occurs only as one generation gives way to the next.