Become a Happier Person–Embrace Change

Posted by Jim ShedivycloseAuthor: Jim Shedivy Name: Jim Shedivy
Email: jim@redmoonsolutions.com
Site: http://blog.redmoonsolutions.com
About: Jim focuses on the long term strategy and the alliance opportunities for Red Moon Solutions, a privately held family business. He has over twenty years of experience in managing tax technology projects and businesses.See Authors Posts (10) on Aug 3, 2010 | 0 comments

Have you gotten a new mobile device or smart phone lately?  How long did it take you to figure it out? Are you like me, just now setting up my voicemail after a month?  In any case, the verdict is in—I love all the (in my kids’ words) ‘cool new things’ that my new phone can do. Yes, even an old dog can learn new tricks. Once I got over the “fear of my new phone” I realized that I actually like this change!  There are so many other examples of change we embrace…

•    Getting a promotion or increase in compensations
•    Meeting your grandbabies for the first time (Trading in the Lladros and white furnishings for those million-dollar smiles!!)
•    Playing the newest golf course (who cares if your score is just a wee bit off because you didn’t realize how far to the right hole 8 really was)

What do these all have in common?  It’s not that the change is necessarily planned.  The change we love is any change that we personally control and/or that we (eventually) see the value is greater than where we started—a trade-up.  When it comes to our careers and businesses, we can love change when we are the initiators of it. How, then, should we address situations to minimize the “out of control” aspect of change?

I’m a strong believer in being proactive. Instead of allowing a situation to escalate to a point where change is so uncomfortable (or potentially detrimental) to you, get involved early to increase your impact and control of change. If you see a negative trend, create a positive solution. Being proactive could, in turn, lead to even more change you like.