Are you born to become a driver or changer of the world, or are you born to pass by and disappear?
A renowned motivational speaker, Jim Rohn, once said that “any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity. Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.”
This quote poses a challenge to me when I think about change and how more often than not people are afraid to change or don’t want the change at all. Day to day I come across many people working in different organizations and I am marveled at their attitude towards change especially in their workplaces.
When a big change happens i.e. getting a new boss or restructuring, we end up not knowing what to do or insist on going about our daily activities in the same way regardless of the change. We end up losing the grip and all of a sudden nothing seems to work out.
Look around…as we continue to implement the new constitution particularly in areas of Governance, we see mixed reactions and disputes on whether people want to pave way for the changes or if the system actually works.
Let’s not forget the wise saying that goes, ‘you cannot put new wine into old wineskins.’ The old must give way to the new.
In my view, there are two categories of people, in reference to change. Type A are always looking out for what has changed and move with the change. They keep monitoring their surroundings as they go about their daily activities to see if at all there are any major changes happening. Even when they hit their targets, they don’t just relax but instead, are continuously in the quest of new business opportunities and challenges.
It’s impressive that some companies manage to restructure their way of business and record an increase in profits or remain stable during tough economic times. Such companies are able to foresee the economic situations because they are always thinking globally, looking out to what’s happening and begin working towards those changes. You need to do the same.
Type B on the other hand is where majority of us fall. Once you have adapted to your daily work life, you get used to it and your life becomes a routine. Eventually you begin to grumble that the job is not challenging or interesting. You wonder why things are happening to you or why everyone is against you; and the only reason you are still at the job is so that you can sustain your livelihood.
My advice to you is you stop analyzing the situation and get going to find new opportunities and developments.
You need to realize that there is a very big difference between activity and productivity. In most cases you sit around thinking that you are being productive and contributing to the company’s objectives, yet all your doing is a lot of ‘activity’.
Find ways of adapting to change particularly in the work place. You were stuck at your comfort zone but now it has been taken away and it’s time to shift gears and move.
Think of the benefits, the excitement, job satisfaction you get each time you grab hold of new opportunities, you hit your targets or when you go the extra mile. Let that be your motivation each day you sit at your desk or go out to source for new business.
Remember that when change occurs you cannot afford to be doing the things you used to do, otherwise you will be left behind, be replaced or become ‘extinct’. Change course! It may not be easy to adopt but you will surely begin to enjoy your work and level of living when you begin to accept change.
Change is inevitable and the sooner we accept that, the sooner we can chart a way forward.
