Our industry is buzzing with change and
transition in all facets. Our clients are making life changing
decisions often in a major state of transition. The essence of the
industry, like most, is all about keeping up with what is current,
embracing changes and growing. Its a timely and appropriate concept
to reflect on.
Change and transition are two
words that are associated with many negative connotations, while
growth and transformation are words that excite. Ironically, you
cant have the latter without the first two.
Ive always enjoyed the challenge of change and the possibilities
it yields. I realized in college that not everyone shared my love
for the process of transformation and it is completely
understandable. I too have been very hesitant and skeptical of
necessary changes in my life, and I know I will be many more times
that I experience that fear. People naturally gravitate toward
stability and comfort, and those are two words you cannot associate
with transition — with the unknown.
I spent all of 2016 in a program
called Ascend. This program is run by Realogy Corporation and the
essence of the training is succession planning, with a focus on
using a proactive approach in your organization to plan for the
future and harbor successful transitions over time. While we
focused on strategies to do this within an organization, weeks of
the curriculum concentrated on personal strategies to help yourself
and others through times of transition. These transitional moments
occur within every aspect of our lives, not just within our
professional lives.
My cousin who is
a well known Boston health and fitness blogger, recently reflected
on a time of personal transition and made a comparison to a trapeze
artist, as they must release one rope in order to grab the next.
This statement had a major impact on me, as it was the week before
we announced some pivotal changes within our company. I found the
comparison resonated with my love for the thrill of jumping for the
next thing.
I am in my twenties, which is
definitely a transformative stage and, therefore, this is a concept
I find myself contemplating often. I do however realize that life
is just one massive transformation –one big transition from one
thing to the next and as soon as we stop resisting change we all of
a sudden become the driver; well start calling the
shots.
I made a speech at my high school
graduation and ended it with a quote from my father who is one of
the most influential people in my life. He said, change is
inevitable, success is an option. I didnt realize the full meaning
at 17, and I definitely still have more to discover, but ultimately
my take on it now is that we have a choice: to be the driver or to
be driven. We can embrace change proactively or let change happen
to us.
As you swing to catch the next
rope, your momentum is forward. Your grit and focus in that moment
is vital, as it will propel you gracefully through your next phase.
Letting go is the fun part; its thrilling, as youre defying
gravity. This is the state of change; this is addicting and
adrenaline-inducing. When you catch that next rope you will feel
relieved and accomplished, but you must immediately start swinging
forward to your next move. If you lean back for too long into that
feeling of relief, you will slow your momentum.
Change is inevitable, success is
an option. Be proactive in your approach to life professionally and
personally, and you may not always catch the rope, but you will
feel the thrill and you will never go backward.
Written by Nicole
Rideout.