I have been thinking about change during the last few months as many businesses have had to convert to remote working, and others have lost their jobs or businesses. It caused me to go back to a post I wrote in January 2014, which resonates today (and everyday). I have updated it, but it remains truth that change is constant.
Winners know this. What do I mean? Being able to adjust on the fly is important. In my world it can mean abandoning the entire oral argument you spent hours preparing because of a question or statement by the judge, a position taken by my opposing counsel or a client question. It also means having change forced upon you where you need to figure out how to network and develop business in a world where social distancing is the new norm and many businesses remain closed. The ability to shift gears on the fly allows you to be focused on the prize, whatever it may be.
Many times the change or adjustment does not need to be a split second decision. What if you plan a new business initiative, spend hundreds of hours on it and then learn something has changed or you missed a piece of information that makes it more challenging to succeed? Change is needed. Is it to scrap everything in the face of adversity? Is it to rethink and tweak your plan? Of course the true answer is that it depends on the situation. But once you acknowledge change is needed you have taken the first step.
Change matters in your professional life. Don’t become stagnant because the current circumstances don’t allow it, i.e. if you don’t change and adjust others will do so and pass you by. To be on the top of your game you have to know when to adjust. Stay up to date on what you need to know to do what you do. Information is power. Information is another thing that lets you know when you have to change or adjust.
Life is both a gift and a challenge in which we all can do a better job of doing our best for our customers and clients, as well as ourselves. So pay attention! Look for when you have to make adjustments or when change is being forced upon you by circumstance. Being open to change will bring creative ideas and opportunity, and allow you to shape your future.
