Change is going to come and it’s not going to stop. You can count on it. Some change you like. Others you don’t. It’s easier to deal with the ones that you like. More challenging with the one’s you don’t like. But, as Bob Dylan said “For the times they are a-changing.”
There are two types of change: cyclical and structural.
Cyclical change are changes that happen over and over like housing prices, interest rates, stock prices, and changes in the weather with the different seasons. We learn that they are going to happen at some point.
Structural changes disrupt the status quo and can derail you. New business models are examples of structural change like Amazon, Uber and Lyft, and Tesla. COVID-19 and the effects it had on all of our lives is another example.
I worked for a company that was located in San Francisco. I loved the company, my job, the people…and the location. Then the company announced that it was moving across the bay to the suburbs (structural change).
My initial reactions were denial and resistance. At first, I just couldn’t accept the fact that we were moving. Were they serious? Then I resisted the idea. I was downright angry actually.
Eventually though, I had to make a decision whether I was going to make the move with the company. If I wasn’t, then I was going to have to find a new job. I spent a couple of weekends exploring the location. At first I didn’t like it. But the more I explored, the more it grew on me. I could relocate and afford to buy a home. My commute would be reduced from 50 minutes to 12. Both big positives.
I decided to make the move with the company and buy my first home. Once I made that decision, I was committed to the change.
It is common for people to go through those four stages during change: denial, resistance, exploration, and finally commitment.
When you are confronted with a change, ask yourself these questions:
- How will this change impact my life?
- What is it about the change that I am resisting?
- What scares me about the change?
- What don’t I like about the way things are now?
- How might the change benefit me?
- What are a couple of steps that I can take to embrace the change?
When change happens, and it will, think back to other changes you have gone through. You survived them and you will survive the next change too. Some of those changes may have even been blessing in disguise.
My company moving did turn out to be one of those blessings. I bought my first home. Since my commute was reduced, I had time to go back to school and get my MBA. I stayed with the company another 13 years and was promoted several times.
What change did you initially resist that turned out to be your blessing in disguise?
This blog posting is based on Success Principle # 31: Embrace Change
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