“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”
“If you aren’t moving forward, you’re moving backward”
When it comes to the subject of change, it becomes easily obvious that we receive conflicting messages. Which adage to adopt? If there isn’t anything wrong, don’t go messing with the formula? Or constant change is necessary to even stay still?
Disregard
I think that this is one of the areas in which the newer, faster technological age means that we must begin to disregard this idea of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” and start to embrace the idea that nothing stays still.
Which means that old, outdated thinking is our first obstacle that pushes us to resist change.
But I think that the second obstacle is the very speed at which the world is now moving. I know that for myself, I can find myself overwhelmed by all the changes and the speed at which these changes are happening. I think that in this faster era, we resist change simply because we feel we can’t keep up with the changes.
Books
I love reading books that are paradigm-shifters. Books that don’t just provide new information, but give you a completely different perspective through which to view life.
When we talk about a new world with new rules, the two authors that come to mind for me are Robert Kiyosaki and Tim Ferriss. In Kiyosaki’s book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” he talks about how we need new rules for finance and life. Defined Benefit plans have become Defined Contribution plans. A solid career no longer means staying with the same company for 30 or 40 years and expecting it to provide for you into a retirement.
We live in a new world with new rules.
In Ferriss’ book, “The 4-Hour Work Week”, he encourages his readers to challenge, eliminate, break, and bend the rules. We live in a new world, and in many ways, it becomes a world where we can create our own rules.
This means that in this new world with people who are rewriting and eliminating old rules, there is only one question to ask yourself:
Will you let change overwhelm you or empower you?
I truly believe that it is your choice.
I will always choose empowerment.
I love and embrace this new world that we live in. If you look around, you can see that opportunity has never been better for so many of us to have what we want in life. But first, you have to know what you want.
What do you want?
If you bring it back to a few of these basics: time, money, travel – I truly believe that each of these is easier to acquire than they’ve ever been before.
The change to work from home means that I now make more money putting in less hours than I ever have before.
But how can I embrace change?
2020 changed everything.
Some changes are forced on us, and some we choose. Being grateful for change is the first step. Change is a good thing. Well, change is going to happen whether you like it or not, so why not choose to like it?
Charlie Tremendous Jones says, “You are the same person in 5 years as you are today except for the books you read and the people you meet”.
Because of this, I make it a goal each year to attend two national or international conferences, introducing me to new people and new experiences. I also make it a goal to read 4 new non-fiction books each year, introducing me to new thoughts and new authors.
Remember, Leaders Are Readers
A quote I try to live by is “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. I start by becoming what I wish to see in the world. More love and effort in my family – it starts with me. More kindness – it starts with me. More positivity – it starts with me.
Say yes to new opportunities. Develop a new skill, then share it.
I once heard the phrase, if you have enough money, you’re not donating enough. The same could be said for time and love. How could you think bigger and serve more people? How could you give more away? How could you do more in your world with less? This is the true definition of an innovator. Innovation is positive change that serves others.
I ask you again, will you let change overwhelm you or empower you?
I know for myself, I think about what Henry David Thoreau said about his experience at Walden Pond, “I want to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,………and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not lived”.
My fear of regret is bigger than my fear of change.
I hope that you can be grateful for change and be empowered by it. I hope you can be purposeful and focused on choosing the change you want for your life. I truly believe that if we each strive to be the change we wish to see in the world, the world can only continue to be a better place.
Connect with Kim here.
