Don’t fight change, embrace it
A famous song once said, “the times they are a-changing”. Today, this couldn’t be more true. Technology seems to advance daily, and those who stay abreast and use it are the ones who are successful. Can you think of anyone who doesn’t have a smartphone? How about a successful business that doesn’t have a website? Of course, there will be exceptions, but the point should be clear. Technology is an easy example to understand, but what about in a business? In particular, what about new ideas for the business? How many times have you heard about “fighting management” or “that’s the way it’s always been”? Stifling advancement and ideas is a surefire way to be left in the dark.
My colleagues and I had the opportunity to discuss new business ideas with prospective clients that happen to work for the same company, but in two separate divisions. In my conversation, we spoke about equipment breakdowns, maintenance issues, poor product quality, and various ways and ideas to improve this. The need was there, the facts were clear, and the message of how best to correct the issues was sound. When presented to the leadership team, the project was shot down. This happened on several occasions, but this person’s conviction remained strong, even now. The reason for not approving the change was because the current method of production was the way they had been doing it and they didn’t want to change to new equipment. This was despite the fact that the new equipment could be paid for by just the maintenance savings alone, not to mention the increased production rates from the same horsepower. The funny thing about this is that my colleague had almost the exact same conversation with his client.
The example here illustrates why it is so important to embrace change and progress. Here, money is being wasted due to unwillingness to try something new. Is it fear? Investment? The true reason may be unknown, but it should make you question how you make decisions. Embrace those new ideas. Challenge old ways of thinking and continue to improve yourself and your business. It’s easy to adhere to the status quo, but fortune favors the bold.
