Back in 2015 I made a massive change in my business – going back out on my own after 3 years with a great partner, leasing a space three times bigger than I needed at the time, and opening a satellite office. This was a change that had been on my mind for over a year, and the time lost debating the options in my head for 15 months can never be recovered. I let FEAR of change hold me back, and it certainly isn’t the first time I have allowed FEAR to control my life plans.
Looking back, my life (and yours, I suspect) has been a series of Changes – some large, some small – as we grew and matured and gained clarity over what we wanted from our jobs, businesses, and lives. Change can be scary, change can be FUN, change can be exhilarating, and the key to Successful Change is to make sure that the changes you make move you in the right direction. We rarely get things perfect on the first try, so we need to keep changing, keep adjusting, and keep moving forward.
Finding the Motivation to Change
As part of my decision-making process, I went back to our tried and true “Formula for Change” model to help me be as certain as possible I was making the best decision for me, my family, and my clients. The formula is D x V + F > R, where the D = Dissatisfaction, V= Vision, F = First Steps and R = Resistance to Change.
With the help of my coaches and family, I made sure I had absolute clarity on my D and V, that I had a Business Plan that outlined my First Steps, and when it all came together, it was enough to overwhelm my Resistance to Change. In the end, that made the decision easy.
Eventually I got past the scary part of change and on to the exciting part of new challenges, opportunities and results!
If you need help making a change, reach out so we can help you think through the same process.
Author: Mark McNulty, Business Coach