Tip #11 – Change is constant, so why resist resisting it?

22^nd June 2006

Some years ago, I worked as a Landscape Ecologist in North-East Scotland. A great job, managing ecology at the landscape scale. I was even paid to walk the Cairngorms and ride along cycle paths! One of the things I did was I worked with the natural forces of nature, as that was the easiest way, and usually the cheapest and simplest way, to fit a new development into the landscape. Whether it was a road scheme, a reservoir, or a forest. Working with nature works. And I knew I’d done a good job when you couldn’t see what I’d done. In fact, a good result to me was that it looked as if the development had always been there, as the simplest and most effective change, is the most natural (and naturally effortless) one.

Because you know, holding yourself back when the universe is inexorably moving on, is hugely energy consuming. Because, at some point, like a giant elastic band under increasing tension, there is this point when you have to make this giant catapulted leap forward to catch up! We’ve all seen the effects of an earthquake, when the earth’s tectonic plates make a sudden and often catastrophic realignment.Well, business and markets can be just like that. Oh, and life too!

For example, look at the MG Rover workers when they had to catch up with the car world and were suddenly catapulted forward to the current day when anyone with an inkling of the company and industry and business and markets knew that this was going to happen at any point over the past twenty years. This inevitable was pretty much only slowed down by new employers, (possibly) well-intentioned business people, and short-term voter-seeking governments.

Cynical maybe, but according to any analyst watching the car industry, it was a case of the inevitable happening. And that’s not to disparage the Longbridge workers who hung on to familiarity. They were only doing what comes naturally for pretty much everyone. And now, they’re going through some pretty radical changes. And, you know, you don’t have to.

So, ask yourself now:

· What am I ignoring, or trends that I’m ignoring, or turning a blind eye to?· What inexorable changes are taking place in my business or market?· What are my worst fears that if came true, would cause a huge shift in my business? Maybe reliance on a single big customer? Maybe out of date products or services? Or seeing government policy changing and resources moving elsewhere?And it’s great to think about that now. However uncomfortable that may feel. Because how much more uncomfortable would it feel if it was to actually happen? And the thing we actually want to avoid in life are those feelings (and remember, What The Thinker Thinks The Prover Proves). Just think about the quantum leap you would have to re-adjust to and the impact that would have on your business, and maybe your lifestyle?So, what to do about it now?

This weeks’ exercise

Take a sheet of paper and draw a line straight down the middle, top to bottom. On the top left hand side write: What’s the worst that can happen?

And then, on the top right hand side write:

And if that happened what would I do about it?And then on the left write all those things you are fearful of, and on the right write what you’d do about that, were it to happen. And then when you’ve finished listing all those things you’d do – DO THEM NOW!

Because if you do them now, then it’s less likely to happen then, is it?

Just think about it. The Formula 1 motor racing industry had a long time to deal with the abolition of tobacco advertising and spent huge amounts of time, money and energy inventing creative ways around it. And then the inevitable happened, and there was a correction in the market as some people call it. Just think, how would you handle it if you didn’t get seven years like Formula 1 did to adjust to a correction in the market? How would it be if you got three months, or 3 weeks, or just 3 days? How would your business manage? Because you know, if you’re ready now for that correction in the marketplace, which, like the forces of is probably going to happen, the chances are your competitors are not. So whilst they’re still thinking what’s happened?, you can continue to move ahead, naturally.And remember, whatever you do, have fun too!

Anthony

©Anthony Davis 2006. All rights reserved