Tag Archives: embracing change

Mar16

A Great Tool for Embracing Change: The 90 Second Rule

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A Great Tool for Embracing Change: The 90 Second Rule

I’ve been listening to an audio program in my car that I find really helpful, presented a coach named Jim Fannin.  Take a 7-minute break to listen to this YouTube video that explains the technique as it can be applied to family relationships.

This is just an introduction to a program with several other simple, effective techniques that Jim teaches.  These are techniques that can be used in just about any situation, whether you are being cut off in traffic (grrrr), relating to others at home or at work, improving health and losing weight, or managing people and running a business.

One of the key points he makes on the first CD of this series is that the average person has 2500 or more thoughts each day, while peak performers have fewer thoughts, maybe 1000 or 1500.  That seems paradoxical, doesn’t it?  But in reality we are bombarded with a constant flow of interruptions and distractions: traffic noise, the ping from email, text messages, phone calls, knocks on the office door, and the biggest distraction of all – our own wayward thoughts, many of them dwelling on the negative.  If we can take 90-second breaks to “breathe like a baby” and to “re-boot our minds” as Jim suggests, we are then able to control our emotions and focus our efforts more effectively.

Try it – it works.  It slows down the merry-go-round of contemporary life and thus prevents the mental and emotional “dizziness” that can accompany coping with constant change.

You can find the 90 Second Rule Audio Program on Jim’s website, at the Nightingale Conant website, or on Amazon.  I find Jim a compelling teacher, perhaps similar to Jim Rohn, a great teacher and one of my all-time favorite business philosophers.

Rohn said, “Either you run the day or the day runs you. “  Jim Fannin’s program provides you with a handy toolbox of techniques to manage your daily life more effectively.

Mar1

The Future – What’s Next?

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The Future – What’s Next?

The recent post entitled “Resistance is Futile” discussed some of the good and bad aspects of change and our tendency to resist it.  Another way to alter our filters and look forward with enthusiasm to what the future may bring is to spend some time monitoring sites or blogs that measure trends and look ahead to see new directions in business, technology, or everyday living.  I’d like to share some of these resources with you, in hopes that you’ll become more optimistic about the positive advancements that are coming.  The mainstream news, especially on TV, is often filled with war, crime, mayhem and tragedy.  But there are lots of positive things happening in the world that just don’t make it to the airwaves.

A good site for looking at business and entrepreneurial trends is Springwise.  You can subscribe to a free newsletter from the site, or just check it when the mood strikes you.  Recent featured businesses included DOGTV, a “scientifically developed, pup-approved” cable network for canines — love the idea.  No need for pooch to be lonely while you’re at work — he’ll be entertained!  There are plenty more intriguing ideas on the site, and if you consider yourself a trend watcher, you may want to join their 15,000 spotters from around the globe who tell them about new business ideas.

The non-profit organization World Future Society, whose motto is “Tomorrow is Built Today,” is another inspiring place to go when you’re pondering the future.  Sign up for their free newsletter; you might want to become a member or attend a meeting.  In July of 2012 they will hold a conference in Toronto, WorldFuture 2012, where you can meet the most successful entrepreneurs of the next decade.  I found out about this organization a couple of years ago from a friend of mine who goes to their annual conference as a coach every year, and I’ve paid attention to it ever since. Most public libraries carry their magazine, The Futurist, so you can get a taste of their research prior to joining.

There are many other great resources to help you look forward to a better future rather than dwelling on the sad aspects of life.  Fast Company is a good print publication if you like to have a tangible product to read, or of course, you can download it to your tablet, e-reader, or computer.  Entrepreneur Magazine is another publication geared to business owners.

I also like to monitor university research.  Many of our universities have formed alliances with business leaders and venture capitalists to encourage innovation.  For example, the University of Texas at Arlington, a suburb of Dallas, has a magazine called Inquiry that features the innovative research taking place at the university and how it is being translated into practical, real-world products.  Here’s an additional link to Harvard University’s research programs. 

Pick practically any university in the US, Europe, Asia or Africa, search on the university website, and look at what’s happening with research related to biology, chemistry, anthropology, medicine, or similar study realms. I guarantee you’ll come away encouraged and far more optimistic than if you watched reality TV or the evening news.

Feb22

Resistance is Futile

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Resistance is Futile

The title of this post is the oft-quoted phrase from Star Trek, and it is also an appropriate mantra for dealing with change. Whether we like it or not, we live in turbulent times with a great deal of change facing us daily.  I see in those around me and even in myself, a weariness with this aspect of modern life.  For example, I’m a big LinkedIn fan, and often tout its virtues to others,but a friend recently responded to my encouragement to set up a profile, “I just don’t want to have to learn something new.”  I understand his feelings.  I’m having to face that issue with my own attitude toward Facebook, which I use with trepidation because it feels so very automated.  I feel like I’m not “in control” of a tool that is supposed to serve me, and I know I’ll need to spend some of my precious time learning more in order to feel comfortable with it. 

But the purpose of life is not always to be in control.  That would be an impossible goal, wouldn’t it?  As human beings we definitely need to impose a degree of structure upon our lives, but rigid control actually works against us.  We need some balance between the logical, analytical, scheduled times and the creative, freedom-loving, playful times.  As a person with a natural resistance to change, I’ve had to come up with some new attitudes to encourage myself to “roll with it” and adapt to new things.  I hope sharing these ideas will be helpful to you when change is staring you in the face and you’re wondering whether to dig in your heels and resist, run screaming in the opposite direction, or smile while accepting it gracefully.

1.  Change is not inherently bad.  It’s hard to know when something new comes along if it will be bad or good.  The truth is, it will be both.  To those who did radio dramatization, TV was a bad thing.  To Apple, the PC was a bad thing.  But radio has evolved and so has Apple.  The changes from competitors moved them in new directions, and those new directions made them better and stronger.  So when I’m faced with change, I make a concerted effort to remain neutral rather than negative, and to think of the change as something that will make me stronger in the long run.  (Okay, I’ll acknowledge that the short run might be hell…..but keep your eye on the long term good.)

2.  Change is inevitable.  We have limited amounts of energy, and fighting a change that we have no control over is a waste of energy.  If management is upgrading your computer, adding a new CRM, or altering work processes, you may have no choice but to accept the changes gracefully.  Here’s the plus side:  new pathways will develop in your brain as you learn and make those changes.  You are exercising your brain and that is good for you!  You don’t want to have a hidebound, crusty, creaky old brain, do you?  And speaking of exercising the brain, check out Lumosity.  It’s an amazing and scientifically-researched way to play games and improve your brainpower at the same time.

3. Change is filled with opportunity.  What we see now in the marketing world shows us this.  There are opportunities due to the internet, social media, economic changes, and demographics that can lead us in exciting new directions.  I feel like an explorer, and that is exciting.  Every day brings something new to consider.  If you view yourself as a life-long learner, this makes every day an educational opportunity.  And yes, even though change brings problems – problems are opportunities to provide solutions, services, and training on how to overcome them.

My last observation on change is that it prevents stagnation.  I truly believe that we’re either moving forward or losing ground.  Stagnant water is stale and foul-smelling and full of bacteria.  Change, and the forward movement it brings, keeps us as individuals and as a society, fresh.  As Benjamin Franklin said:  “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”

Feb21

Welcome to OZ

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Welcome to OZ

OZ – the Outer Zone.

Welcome to OZ.

If you are an artist, craftsperson, small business person, consultant – you have broken the barrier of the Comfort Zone and moved into the Outer Zone.

Or have you?

One of the problems with the Comfort Zone is that we tend to rebuild it wherever we land, after breaking through the membrane of complacency.

As business people, we rely on our strengths to carry us through.  And every so often something new occurs, and requires an adjustment to the Zone.

Change.

It is inevitable, and like death and taxes, it requires an enormous will power and several experts to thwart, and usually – you only windup forestalling the inevitable.

How do you learn to embrace change?

That will be the subject of the next post… in the meantime, enjoy OZ and remember to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road”.

 

Jan25

Shifting Gears: From Employee to Entrepreneur

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Shifting Gears: From Employee to Entrepreneur

In her January 5 post, Unemployed or Underemployed, Natalia said:  ”I fully believe that the next big thing will be cottage industries – especially with the trend to buy locally to alleviate dependence on oil, help conserve resources, and to be greener. People who find ways to help others be green, upcycle old items, organize recycling where it really makes sense – those are the folks who will help re-establish small businesses and therefore create jobs.”

Shifting gears and viewing oneself as an entrepreneur can enrich you.  It will change the way you view your job, if you are employed, and the way you perform your job.  It will also help you to understand that there are many options available to you.  You can write a business plan and use your own funds or secure funding.  You can work a full time job and start something part time in the evenings, thanks to the power of the internet, which can attract a global audience.  You can  experiment inexpensively with blogging, an Etsy store,  a Zazzle store, an ebay store, a part-time service, writing skills, cooking skills, handiwork skills, volunteer work – the ideas are unlimited, you just have to find one that works for you.  Ideally, you may find several oppportunities that can work for you.

Really — you are never stuck.  Stuckness (I know, I’m making up a word) is an illusion.  But I do believe that you need to follow your dreams in some fashion, if not in your 9 to 5 job — do something in your spare time that feeds your spirit.  Whatever you do that feeds your spirit can only lead you to a better, fuller, happier life.

My background is in recruiting, research and writing – those are key skill areas for me, but like Natalia, I enjoy art, crafts, cooking and other hands-on activities.  My daytime work in the non-profit world provides a great deal of satisfaction for me, but I view it as my “base” and use my spare time to explore other areas.  Currently I’m editing articles for a national magazine; writing web copy for a client; writing recruitment ads for another client; writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry; and I run an ebay store.  I’m toying with the idea of opening an etsy store.

I’m turning my dining room into a factory of sorts.  It will be a writing factory, an ebay shipping center, and an etsy crafting room.  Thinking about it makes my eyes light up with joy.

In 2009 I took Profiting From Your Passions  (PFYP) coaching training from Valerie Young, author of  The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women, so I could help people turn their passions — the things they love to do — into profit streams.  The reason I did that was because as a recruiter, I could only help a limited number of people find work.  I talked to many people who didn’t want to face the truth that their line of work was gone, or diminished to the point that finding a job like the one they once had was going to be an uphill struggle.  Some of those people were using up all or most of their savings in a quest to find a job that was turning into long-term unemployment.  Things have gotten worse since 2009.  I’m not being doom-and-gloom-ish here, I’m just stating the reality that too many bright and talented people are facing.

So, maybe you think this doesn’t apply to you — you’re working right now.  Even if you have all the right skills, and you are highly employable — can you depend upon your employer?  Will your employer make good decisions? If your company markets globally, will some event halfway across the world like a tsunami, an earthquake, or a war shut down their foreign facilities?  Will your work be outsourced?  Will you be replaced by a new, disruptive technology that makes your job obsolete?  Or — worse yet — do you dislike your work?  Do you dread going to work every day?

Americans have always taken pride in being independent.  Yet we also know that we are interdependent, not just on each other, but on the rest of the world.  America is not isolated from Europe, China, Africa or the Middle East.  I think part of thriving in this century will involve taking a good, hard look at your situation — whatever it is — and making adjustments to fit the times.  Whether it involves getting rid of debt, saving more, setting up a part-time or full-time business, following your passionate love of a hobby or pastime — if you think about it, you’ll figure out the right direction for you.  And when you’re ready — the path will appear, a teacher or mentor will come into your life, you’ll read the right article or see something on television – and you’ll have what you need to start shifting gears.

In future posts I plan to highlight innovative ideas to help stimulate your thinking and help you move forward with your dreams.  Some will involve people I know; others will involve business ideas I’ve seen on the web, in the paper, in books I’m reading, or in the news.  My goal will be to stimulate your own creative ideas and encourage you to make changes, and I would appreciate your feedback.

Jan17

The Dynamics of Teams

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The Dynamics of Teams

“If everybody is thinking alike…then somebody isn’t thinking.” – George S. Patton

The ability for people to collaborate and create as a group is one of the miracles of life, and also one of the most delicate balancing acts for the dynamics shift and change as people come in and out of groups, or grow into differing roles within the group.

How often have we experienced this first hand?  When an amazing individual contibutor is thrust into a leadership position, for example…or when a new and unexpected team mate is added – there is a turbulent time and then either that person is incorporated into the group with whatever changes are made to accommodate him/her…or they fail.

That ebb and flow of acceptance, and evolution of the team occurs at the company level – as small companies try to make the shift to medium size or medium to large.  Often they hit a barrier to expansion, and often they cannot understand what it is that is holding them back.  That is where Management and Organizational Development (M&OD) Consultants and Coaches can really add value.  Regardless of their methodology (which can span from individual psych tests to 360 evaluations to group coaching) they get to see the team from a nearly objective point of view.

The challenge is, as in quantum physics, that the observer can and does influence the course of the object or objects being observed.  So choosing an M&OD should include looking for the traits that you hope to mirror in your team or business.  If you think that the core problem is aggressive behavior and competition – be sure not to hire a consultant who demonstrates those traits.  Common sense?  Perhaps, but when you have had the opportunity to observe a lot of different company cultures, and team subcultures – you notice that “like draws like” and the natural inclination of a group is to want to homogenize into a recognizable “us”.  This seems to me, to be why embracing change is so challenging for large groups.  And why Consulting firms that specialize in Management and Organizational Development will find plenty to do in times like these.

Oct10

Embracing Change – Ouch.

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Embracing Change – Ouch.

Theodore Roosevelt is oft quoted as saying “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” Never a truer word spoken when applied to technology and new applications.

As a culture, we have evolved from Teddy’s time, to wanting everything to be easy and fast. Our attention is lost on anything that throws any kind of hurdle our way, because there are ten other items that are easier which will rise up and capture our attention. This goes for relationships as well. We want a profile, a summary, and quick references on everyone we meet, rather than taking time to get to know someone. If we could we would fast forward through introductions to get to the “best part of the show”.

So it isn’t surprising that embracing change is a big “Owie” in most organizations. What can be done about it – well, to start, take smaller bites. Or Bytes. Change taken in small “baby” steps is equivalent to Quick and Easy. And like the babies we are emulating, we are gonna fall and go boom every once in awhile.

Nov9

We’ve ALWAYS done it this way…

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We’ve ALWAYS done it this way…

It is a standing joke… and a standard defensive response.  When presented with the possibility of change, humans retreat to routine.  Whether it is a conscious decision or an unconsious one, we all do it.  So how do you encourage and embrace change in your organization?

There are many consultants out there that claim they can help you and your organization “embrace change”.  What is it that they are trying to accomplish?  Are you and the consultant trying to impose chaos over structure?  And if you are, what makes you think anyone would embrace that, given that human nature thrives on structure? 

I say “structure” with purpose.  Not necessarily “routine” but structure, framework, organization.  It means that if you want people to process change effectively, it must be structured in a way that they can see what the results are supposed to look like.  The need to see what the goal is for the change – to have a clear vision of where they are going and what it will look like, feel like, smell like….when they get there.

Great leaders all have the ability to share the vision of what the change will “lead” to – good leaders are at least able to convince their team that they know where they are going and elicit trust in themselves personally that gets everyone to the end goal.  You probably have experience of good and not-so-good leaders.  History demonstrates all kinds of leaders if you need some examples. 

Think you have what it takes to be an agent of change?  If you think you are able to structure change successfully – test yourself.  Try getting a tired 3 year old to take a nap.

If you can do that – you probably have what it takes!