What is Change Good For?
Why do I want change so bad? Is it just for the sake of something different?
I don’t think that’s it.
I think I observe a lot of change around me and I feel like I’m living in a world that’s out of sync. Perhaps I shouldn’t say I want change. I certainly don’t want it just for it’s own sake. I want t0 put my energy into things that are adequately in tune with the reality of the situation. I could actually be pretty content without change if things were static. Hey, I like quiet, serene and unchallenging environments more than most. The world is not static, however, and it’s clearly not going to be static. I want change only because it’s the best strategy to deal with reality. I want responsiveness.
I have a little analogy to throw at you. Have you ever been caught wearing your parka on the day spring weather arrives? Worse yet, you’re wearing a light fall coat the day winter blows in. It’s actually a pretty crummy day until you can adjust. If you’ve got a few hours before you get home to your warm coat, it totally monopolizes your day. I feel like that about the things I want to change. The discomfort makes for a lingering dissonance you can’t shake. Let’s adjust to the new order. We’d all be more comfortable.
The new reality is that we’re in an age of participation. It’s easy for everyone to have a voice and to engage with the things they care about. This rule of engagement now just resides there. It’s not up for debate. Somebody else’s change made that happen. The internet, Google, social media, the end of a Baby Boomer labour era, reality has changed. I’m going to accept this reality and adjust accordingly, but I really dislike this “get it” and “don’t get it” divide. I want my face-to-face community members to join me, yet I feel the distance growing.
I can refer you to a long line of people that will tell you I’m being unreasonable. In my defense, I don’t think I’m pushing for something because it’s shiny or exciting. I just want equilibrium. To create that balance one side has to catch up… or it’s going to be replaced.
Be the change, eh? With all this opportunity to join and change and participate it’s more important than ever to find that compelling reason of what makes you or your organization worth joining. I find it really tempting to dip my toes in dozens of areas and call it participating. But to really participate still takes a major commitment. That’s why it’s so important to make a strong case for “why you?”. It’s easy to participate. Harder to engage.
Your thoughts are intriguing! Change for the sake of change is empty. However, as you pointed out, change is constantly occurring around us.
Claiming one’s voice, doing something meaningful with it, and finding others that share one’s values, desires, and goals can be intimidating for some, particularly if it involves technology. Engagement for me has been having some terrific conversations on Twitter about everything from business to barbecue. Engagement has also meant joining the 12 For 12k Challenge and changing the world one step at a time. I can’t wait to see what you do with your engagement. I’m glad we’ve met and have this conversation!
Thanks for the comment Elli! Other readers, if you’re on Twitter, find and follow Elli now at http://www.twitter.com/3keyscoach
Thanks for reading Dave! I definitely have that tendency to want to sample everything, too. Still working on what really has meaning for me, I guess.