Seven ideas to drive an effective Change
Change is not an end in itself. No one changes just for the sake of changing. But in the career or business world, change is increasingly necessary. The reality around us evolves ever more rapidly and the direction in which this change happens is not always easy to understand, definitive and unequivocal.
Therefore, if we want to make progress in the midst of uncertainty and competition, the readiness to change must always be present. Wasting too much time or making certain types of mistakes can lead to very unpleasant (and often quite detrimental) consequences. But don’t worry: this only depends on you…
Change is much more than adapting to reality: it must be based on a proactive stance of trying to understand what may happen in the foreseeable future, anticipating its consequences. As transformations often occur unexpectedly, bringing along new ways of seeing and dealing with problems, a creative, resilient and methodical attitude is required to overcome the new challenges.
Change is needed because of uncertainty and competition and, on a personal level, because we must adapt to those with whom we communicate.
Summing it up, for a transformation process to be successful and overcome the barriers that often prevent us from diving in what really matters, here’s our two cents:
1 The last minute is already past. Don’t be lazy or complacent. Stop procrastinating because the clock won’t stop ticking while you are fiddling with your smartphone. The time you spend daydreaming is a wasted opportunity where you could have done something useful to your projects. Everything you think about should be turned into action or thrown away.
2 No lion is happy in a cage. How to heal a lion who lives unhappily inside his cage? Do you advise him to do yoga, to practice mindfulness? Believe in the illusion that the king of the jungle can be anything he wants? That’s all wrong: what he needs is to learn how to make a key to get out of his cage. Each of us is largely the product of our circumstances.
3 Don’t go to war without an army. Nowadays, nothing is easy anymore. The process of transformation and change is most often only possible through teamwork. The group leverages creativity and allows everyone to reach further with new solutions and ideas. A school of small fish working as a team is as powerful as a shark.
4 Reading the Bible doesn’t make you a saint. Some people think that knowledge is what matters to change their lives. No: what really changes lives is action. It is important to acquire concepts, to understand how things work, but if you don’t get results from what you have learned that is worth very little.
5 A river always runs to the sea. Water is apparently the most fragile state of matter. And yet a river always reaches its destination, circumventing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, gaining more and more momentum and strength along the way. A river is resilient; it never gives up and always overcomes any challenge. This fluidity and adaptability are all we need to reach wherever our ambition takes us.
6 If you want to go fishing, don’t forget the lake and the rod. Some people would love to fish. They have read all the books and watched movies about it, and even practiced with a rod in the bathtub. And yet something is missing: they need the right equipment, to know how to use it and to have a river or lake nearby where there is enough fish. Whatever the ambition, certain practical conditions must exist or be attainable. But if you live in the desert and are not willing to leave it, you’d better opt for picking dates.
7 Keep some jewels in the safe. Whatever you are willing to share, do it only with those who have the same attitude towards you. If the core of your knowledge and strategy is really valuable and unique, keep it away from those who approach you just for their advantage. Protect your stones as much as you can because that will allow you to keep a competitive edge over your rivals.
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