It is human nature to believe that the present won’t change much. This winter season of brutal cold (if you live in the Northeastern part of the US) is the new normal they say (and we believe). But the warm, snowless winter, of a few years back was also the new normal. Yes, weather patterns surely have changed dramatically. But they are not done changing. They will change again.
Normal is change. Always.
A good family friend is at the top of her game. She is the highest performing employee at her firm. As a result of this, she is an extraordinary contributor and makes an extraordinary income. Her salary allows her a beautiful home, city apartment and vacation homes (yes, that’s plural). The only problem is… that all that just went away. She no longer is, she was. She was at the top of her game. She was the highest performing employee. She made an extraordinary income. Her division went under. And now her life is in an instant flux.
The more you believe things won’t change, the more it blindsides you. Always.
In my thirties I achieved more wealth than I ever imagined. Also, in my thirties, I lost it all. I don’t know if you have ever gone for a dip in the ocean and, all of a sudden, a massive wave tumbles you so badly that while underwater you don’t know which way is up. It feels like swimming in any direction will kill you. And not doing anything will kill you. That’s what I went through.
If we aren’t expecting change, it will throw us around so badly we become paralyzed.
The fact is this: things change. Things will get better and things will get worse. The only guarantee is that how things are now, is not how they will stay. Yet, our minds continually tell us that today is the new normal. Today is how things will always be. Not true. But, if you realize that you can prepare, you can lean into change. You can even capture some of the good now and hold onto it- to smooth over some of the bad in the future.
How can entrepreneurs manage change? Consistently store away your profits, so that money is there when you need it in the future. On a great sales day at your office, sell more to help cover that future quiet day. Challenge your business to change on its own, before the forces of industry make it change.
This too shall pass. Change is coming!
I work in a company where change is not only expected, it is like breathing, constant. Some days I think that I ended up there because I thrive on change.
I’ve had ups and downs, had a lot, lost a lot and the one thing I can say about that particular aspect of change is that we as people tend to identify ourselves with our stuff and our positions. We forget that inside each of us there is a human that has stuff and does stuff.
If we stay focused on the fact that we are, instead of focusing on what we have or what we do, we will be able to handle change as just part of the experience. Those of us who try to hang on to who we were or what we had, are usually the ones who handle it badly.
Thanks Mike.