There are no runners
Look at me breaking down the running community with the title of this blog. On the contrary, I love sports, and I believe we are up for a great showing at the upcoming Olympic Games! What I’m referring to is the statement “There are no runners” from the FinOps X 2024 Day 1 Keynote. Let me fill you in!
In the world of FinOps, we often talk about three stages of maturity: crawl, walk, and run. I even add a pre-crawl stage for companies that are just starting out. Many customers aim to reach the run stage in all areas, thinking this means they’ve made it. But this idea is quite misleading.
Every change in your company can affect your FinOps practices. You need to be able to quickly adjust your priorities to stay on top of these changes. Since COVID-19, we all understand that what is normal today can change tomorrow. This means we must be ready to adapt to a new normal at any time. Achieving and maintaining a run state forever is very difficult, if not impossible.
Instead of focusing on reaching a final stage, it’s more important to keep improving and staying flexible. Changes will always happen, and being able to adjust your FinOps strategies quickly will help your company stay strong and efficient.
For many, the goal seems to be reaching a stage where everything is perfect and no more work is needed. But in reality, the work never stops. Changes in the market, the economy, politics, new technologies, and internal shifts will always require updates to your FinOps approach. It’s a continuous journey of learning and adapting.
One major lesson from the keynote was that success in FinOps is not about reaching a final destination. It’s about being prepared for change and having the ability to adjust your strategies as needed. Companies that can do this will find it easier to manage their cloud costs and get the most value from their investments.
To put it simply, FinOps is like a marathon, not a sprint. You need to keep moving forward, adjusting your pace and strategies as the race goes on. There will be times when you need to slow down and rethink your approach, and times when you can speed up and push ahead. The key is to stay flexible and keep improving.
Another thought that came to mind during the keynote was the idea that there are no "runners" when it comes to the personas involved in FinOps and the workloads and application teams you need to work with.
In FinOps, it's crucial to engage with a wide range of personas, from executives and finance teams to engineers and product managers. Each group has different needs and perspectives, and all are important in the journey towards financial efficiency in the cloud. No single group can "run" on its own; collaboration is key.
Similarly, no workload or application team can be left out of the conversation. Every team that uses cloud resources needs to be involved in the FinOps process. This means regular communication, education, and collaboration across all departments. It's not enough to just have a few teams "running" ahead while others lag behind. However, it's also important to note that not all teams need to move at the same pace. Some teams may be at a lower maturity level than others, and that’s okay. The goal is to ensure that everyone is moving forward and improving continuously.
This inclusive approach ensures that all parts of the organization are aligned and working towards the same goals. It helps in identifying cost-saving opportunities, improving resource usage, and making informed decisions. By bringing everyone on board, you create a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
In conclusion, the FinOps X 2024 keynote reminded me that there are no finish lines in FinOps, and there are no lone runners. It's an ongoing process that requires the involvement of all personas and teams within the organization. By staying adaptable, fostering collaboration, and being ready to change, companies can better handle their cloud costs and keep up with the fast-paced world of technology.
So, the next time you think about your FinOps journey, remember: it's not about reaching the end or having a few teams leading the way. It's about staying agile, always learning, and continually improving together as a unified team. This approach will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape and achieve lasting success.
Watch the full video underneath