There’s only one company currently listed in the Dow Jones Industrial Index that was included in the 1896 original – General Electric.  Where are all the rest of them?  Some of them have been gobbled up by other companies, some have sold off so much of their core business that they fail to qualify to be on the Dow Jones Industrial Index, and some have gone by the wayside. 
    
     We tend to think that once a company gets to certain point in size that they become invincible.  But realistically we know that is not true.  The larger an organization gets the slower they respond to change.  It has happened over and over again.  And usually the free market facilitates this evolution. 
    
     I remember when WordPerfect and Harvard Graphics were the kings of business software.  They seemingly had a hold on the market.  Then Microsoft stepped in and took over.  I’ve heard people talking about the Microsoft Monopoly and yet, mark my words; Microsoft will have many competitors as the market changes.  Cloud computing and almost constant connection to the internet will provide some solid competition to Microsoft’s market.
    
     The free enterprise system encourages evolution.  What seemed impossible yesterday will be reality today.  What seemed like a monopoly in the marketplace will be quickly challenged by a competitor willing and able to change with the market.  Today GE has diversified services from technology and manufacturing, operates in more than 100 countries, and employs nearly 340,000 people worldwide.  As long as it continues to respond to the changes in the marketplace GE will be positioned to keep its place on the Dow Jones Industrial Index.