With Change Comes Opportunity

There is nothing more constant than change. It’s happening all around us, everyday, all of the time. Yet, why is it that so many people fear change? One of the biggest reasons is we get comfortable in the way we’re doing things. Then when something takes us out of our comfort zone … loss of job … moving to a new town … our business and customers needs change, we feel uncomfortable because we’re going through some difficulty adjusting. One of my favorite quotes is by Winston Churchill, “A pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.” There is always something valuable that can be derived out of difficulty, adversity or change. We just have to look for it with open minds. Here are 3 ways to embrace change and have it work for us to elevate ourselves to a higher level of achievement.

1. Learn Something New Everyday

If we are not learning every day we are not just standing still in life, we are moving backwards. Learning new information motivates us and gives us a foundation of knowledge that can be applied to the changes we face. Even just 15 minutes a day devoted to reading books, magazines or any material that elevates our thinking in different directions will help us take advantage of the changes taking place in our lives.

2. Take Smaller Steps

Our approach to change doesn’t have to happen all at once. If you’re changing your diet, exercise plan or business plan, try breaking it down to more manageable steps. Don’t try to do everything at once and then become overwhelmed and discouraged. Remember, by the mile it’s a trial … by the yard it’s hard … but by the inch it’s a cinch. When you break it down into smaller steps and those steps are easier to accomplish, it helps build your confidence to continue…success breeds success.

3. Be Adaptable

In martial arts there is a saying, “what’s hard dies, what’s soft lives.” Stay flexible and learn how to blend with your opponent. When changes come your way keep an open mind and look for ways to take advantage of the situation by not being so rigid in your approach. When we get set in our ways that is what seems to get “in the way” of new opportunities. Charles Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change.”

It wasn’t until late in life that I became a voracious reader. There are certain books I keep reading over and over during the year. What I’ve found is that every time I do this I find new and valuable information that has not appeared in the last read. Either I’m losing my memory or the changes I’m experiencing over time allows me to interpret this information in an entirely new way. It reminds me to throw myself into new and challenging experiences on a constant basis. It seems to be that the secret to change is to focus on the opportunities on a new path, not the comfort of a worn trail.

Barry Farber is a best selling author of 10 books including The 12 Cliches of Selling and Why They Work and Superstar Sales Manager’s Secrets. He speaks to various corporations on sales, management, and personal development. To learn more about Barry visit him at www.barryfarber.com or email him with any comments or questions at barry@barryfarber.com.