Change is always in the air

A beautiful spring turned into summer last Monday; I was reminded of the eternal changes of the seasons. Four times every year we experience a change in our surroundings and ultimately, our lifestyle. Warm summers spent outside in the bright sunshine never fail to turn into cold winters where we retreat to the warmth of home and shelter from the elements. We accept these changes as part of life and adapt to live in these four different seasons accordingly. So why are we afraid of change outside of this universal lifecycle?

We live in fear of change. Change deals with the unknown, a territory that is an uncharted challenge. We avoid unknown because it is comfortable and safe within familiar borders. But if we never venture outside of our boundaries, how can we improve? If we stay safe within the known, we may miss precious experiences and opportunities that we did not dream possible.

Fear of change applies to the business world as well. In today’s uncertain economy, a safe harbor is hard to find. We can’t rely on familiar business practices and customs as the world shrinks with globalization and a shifting marketplace. The only familiar aspect of today’s fluctuating environment is change itself. As individuals and business people, we must use change as a tool to better ourselves and our community. Yes the unknown is scary, but it is inevitable. If used as a weapon of choice rather than a preconceived hindrance it will foster improvements to the struggling economy.

Just as we adapt to the turning of the seasons, we must adapt to our shifting marketplace. The only thing we can count on is change; embrace it. The challenge of change will open doors to improvement and growth. Conquer that fear and step into the unknown, you might be surprised by what you find.

Expand Your Bucket List

Bucket list has been added to our vocabulary in recent years. What’s on your bucket list is a question that elicits ready answers. Parachute jumps, hang gliding, a specific mountain trek or a romantic trip to an idyllic place with that one special person are among the common answers. Yes, even bucket lists can be common.

But, what is your bucket list for your work, your business, your career? Is there a business goal you want to achieve that would give you the same rush as jumping out of an airplane? Is there a client you could attain that would give you the sense of satisfaction that you might achieve from a successful, but arduous mountain climb?

Look at your work goals with the same ardor you make a list for your personal goals. You might be surprised to find they will feed each other and you. You might find that one will give you the resources to fulfill the other. You might push yourself to achieve things you had not previously considered. Dreams apply to all aspects of your life. Take a shot.

Fear as a Virtue

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. Mark Twain

Like most emotions fear runs on a continuum from mild discomfort to terror. It serves as a warning in all of its forms. Some fears are irrational, some can be terrifying and some are indications of opportunity. In life threatening situations fear drives our response mechanisms and triggers adrenalin levels that enhance our survival skills. But what role does fear play in our business life?

The answer depends on how willing you are to listen to fear indicators, respond to them and most importantly to overcome them. In business fear most often arises when we are faced with opportunity. We might experience butterflies, anxiety or more than normal doubt. Many of us make the mistake of focusing on the fear rather than the opportunity. Focus on the fear echoes all of the reasons to avoid change.

The opportunity might be the pursuit of a client that is more of a challenge than you are used to; it might be an option to partner with someone new, to launch a new aspect of your business, or move to a new location. Any opportunity is a challenge to the status quo and that challenge is manifested in the mild discomfort of low range fear.

Those butterflies are telling you something, but are you willing to listen? To listen is to analyze your confidence in your ability to grow your business. To listen to the fear or your instincts is review your goals and confront the courage necessary to fulfill them. How many times have you heard someone say, “I could have ……” That opener is to frequently the encore to regret. As in your personal life view every opportunity in the context of how sorry will I be if I don’t do it?

Fear’s role at this level is to maintain the status quo not to provide the adrenalin necessary to move forward. The status quo is comfortable but it does not provide the challenges needed to grow, develop and achieve the next level of success. Fear complacency not opportunity.