subject: Ken Betterton Says A Change Is Gonna Come [print this page] Like it or not, things changeLike it or not, things change.
Dont get all sweaty-palmed on me, now. Change is good! Have you ever seen a stagnant pond? Theyre not too appealing, are they? If theres no fresh water circulating through the pond, it becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and it certainly isnt safe to drink. Water needs to move in order to give life.
And so do people.
If nothing ever changed, wed be pretty bored. Change will always be part of our lives. Some change is hard to accept, like aging, global warming, or the breakup of The Backstreet Boys. Some change is fun, like buying new clothes, the first pitch of baseball season, or finding that old record youve been looking for forever.
One of the keys to a happy life is becoming friends with change. When you welcome change, worlds of opportunity open up to you. United States Marines are taught to Adapt, Improvise, and Overcome, and you would do well to choose the same approach.
As a business owner, one of the worst things you can say is Weve been doing it this way for 20 years. Why change now? Usually one small adjustment in operations will get you back on track and adjusted to whatever curveball the market has thrown at you.
As a person, being unable to adapt to change can be downright embarrassing. Do you know the story of an elderly woman who, back in the 60s, used to change the oil in her car every 3,000 miles. It was a necessity back then. The engines didnt run as clean and the oil was of a lesser quality than it is now. Today, that woman owns a car whose oil only needs to be changed every 10,000 miles, but she still takes her car in to the shop every 3,000 miles because thats the way we did it when I was younger.
Now, thats just a little nuts. Not to mention wasteful of money and oil! Why not take advantage of the wonderful changes in automotive technology? Why not learn to swing with the times and trust that things are better now? How sad is it to not be able to adapt to something as simple as when to change the oil in a car.?
Inability to change with the times and learn new ways to do things is not an admirable quality. In fact, it will put you at a huge disadvantage in the marketplace and in life. Youve met someone who refuses to get a cell phone, or to send text messages, or to use Skype. Think of all the opportunities that person is missing out on. Think of all the ways that technology could be used to improve the persons personal and professional life.
If you can just make the jump from looking at change as an enemy and see it as an opportunity for growth, youll be in a constant state of anticipation, where you cant wait to see the next cool thing that unfolds in your life.
