Change is hard

I just dropped my youngest daughter off at preschool this morning. This is her last week of child care before she begins kindergarten on Monday. My wife and I are looking forward to our weekly “raise” in pay, and my daughter can’t wait to attend “big girl” school with her older sister. Yet when I turned in my last payment, when I kissed and hugged her goodbye, I was struck by a sense of loss that reminded me that change is hard.

Change is hard in business too. Whether you’re an employee changing jobs or a business owner changing direction, it can be mentally and physically exhausting to go through the process. The key is to focus on the positive outcome and not give up.

Last week I attended the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Breakfast of Champions event with Rick Wallenda, of the famous high-wire circus act. Rick shared the inspiring history of his family. He touched on the tragedies that took the lives of so many of his loved ones, and he told of the triumphs of carrying on the great tradition of their trade. The show must go on.

Everyone has heard this saying, but I suspect few can relate to the true meaning of the words. In the case of The Great Wallendas it meant doing another show the day after someone died falling from the wire.

For most of us changing your job or adjusting your business strategy isn’t that dramatic. For me and my daughter, starting kindergarten is not a life or death situation. However, I’m pretty sure when mom drops her off for her first day of big girl school next Monday; it’s going to be pretty dramatic.

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.