I’m all Apple all the time. Since 1984.

So far, Apple Inc. and the late Steve Jobs have changed the way computers run, reinvented the mobile telephone, and revolutionized the way music is distributed to a point that all retailers, distributors, producers, music groups and recording artists are totally dependent on Apple for a sizable share of their revenue.

The iPod, and all versions of their music players, phones, laptops and anything that plays music use iTunes as a playing medium AND a purchasing medium. WOW. The company has completely changed the game and the process. The world accepted it, bought it by the billions and LOVES it.

Today is iPad day. Or should I say “book replacement” day. The iPad is so revolutionary that no one even saw it coming. They didn’t know what to do with it – or could have predicted the changes it would inspire.

Capitalizing on the growing demand for e-books, the exploding applications market, e-reader popularity and the global appetite for cool products, Apple went to market having no idea what an explosion of creativity it was unleashing.

Remember your first day of school every year? “Issuing books” was a major part of the day. Well, those days aren’t completely over yet, but the iPad is beginning to idle printing presses globally. And soon, like the Yellow Pages, newspapers and magazines, the majority of printed media will only be available online as a download or from some application service provider.

REALITY: Everyone on the planet is looking for ways to improve education. The iPad will lead the revolution. It will provide 21st-century learning and make it FUN.

What kid wants eight textbooks when he or she could have an iPad? NOBODY ON THE PLANET. Less money, no hassle, completely searchable, underline-able, note-take-able and FUN.

Our 3-year old daughter, Gabrielle, dominates one of our iPads. She reads, plays, watches, listens and swipes to her heart’s content. And any time I tell her, “That’s not on this iPad,” she instantly says, “Download it, Papa.”

So far, this is a nice story. Many of you already know it, and are reading this on an Apple device. That’s great for Apple. They deserve it.

BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU? What major change or shift is about to come into your world? Your business? Your life? And are you ready for it?

Or are you too busy focused on yesterday, today, competition, bidding, eking out a profit?

The businesses that have lost it were and are those that were and are not ready to compete. And most of them, like newspapers and other print publications, took too long to change their strategies. Google Ads and AdWords swooped in and cleaned their clock, their customers and their cash reserves.

Not many are ready for the evolution.

I talked about the Apple story because it saw what was next and led the way. It innovated, took risks, made it easy to do business and created products that consumers wanted.

And on a smaller scale, in your market, to your customers, you must do the same.

Are you looking at EVERY element of how you’re doing business? Are you willing to take the step forward? Or will you try to hang on to what has worked for the past 20 years, and not see, let alone seize, the opportunity?

Got iPad?