Transitions. Like it or not, life is full of them.
I’ve recently transitioned from working with a small but amazing marketing team at the credit union to consulting on a part-time basis, a shift that’s allowing me to take some time over the summer to evaluate where I want to go next. And that, I think, is a very good thing.
Sometimes we’re in control of change and other times we’re not, but whether I’m controlling it or not I try to view change as an opportunity. I realize that not everyone shares my Pollyanna perspective. There are a lot of people who despair when they discover the Cheerios’ box is empty and they have to settle for Shredded Wheat instead, who won’t hear of having dinner at 8pm if the usual time is 7pm, and who wouldn’t dream of changing the route they take home from work even if it shortens the drive or provides a more scenic trip.
They’re the “we’ve always done it that way” folks for whom the world is a predictable place and for whom change represents a threat, a challenge to a comfortable and safe status quo. I think we need to recognize whether we’re sometimes the road blocks to new ways of thinking and doing, or whether we’re excited by the promise of cool things to come – not change for the sake of change, but change that will provide better communications, process efficiencies, or even a more engaging way to do what we do. Fun should count.
Traditionally, the corporate world has moved slowly, but many of today’s successful companies – like Southwest Air, Best Buy, and Amazon – are those that adapt well to change, that embrace new ideas and technology, and that are paying attention to the groundswell of change that is currently taking place on a global level.
As for me, I intend to keep exploring ways to merge “traditional” media with “social” media while continuing the conversation. And as I transition, I’m going to keep in mind James D. Finley’s famous quote: “Nothing encourages creativity like the chance to fall flat on one’s face.” To me that means be brave, take chances, embrace life.
As always, great post Lori
I like to think of myself as someone who embraces change. It’s not always easy or fun, but with change comes opportunity and that can be exciting and exhilarating.
Your post reminds me of a David story. Every time I went anywhere with him, he would make me take a different way, I had always been in the habit of taking the most direct route but David would say “Come on, shake it up a bit, get creative, even when it comes to driving”… so since then I’ve done exactly that and I’ve seen some beautiful places I never knew existed!
Thanks Renee, for sharing another wonderful David story. I was thinking of him when I wrote this, there must be David karma all over.
I was thinking when I went to school in Denmark. i would question the teachers about this or that, not really getting an answer. Then one day one of the teachers came up to me and said “Gene this is the way we have done it for 800 years and we aren’t going to change.” That was it. Period. It quickly makes one realize what will happen when you are never going to change. Scary.