Helping individuals lead and manage change is what I have done my entire professional life. I have learned a lot about people, change and all the reasons it doesn’t happen. You’ve heard them as well: I’m afraid, it will never work, we don’t have the right tools, leaders, resources, etc.
But one of the biggest reasons that I see is almost never talked about: change requires effort and many people are just plain lazy and don’t want to exert the effort that it takes to change. Sustained effort demands sustained discipline– many are so weary of day-to-day demands that the thought of doing more overloads the circuitry! Many people believe the fallacy that working long hours will make them successful. They don’t understand that without growth and change working hard will only result in a life that is a grind.
It’s so much easier to go with the flow downstream — to turn on the computer, t.v., netflix, music, get locked into business as usual thinking. Put the life on autopilot. It’s the way most people live.
Our habits are all a result of our strength (or lack thereof) of character. Daily thought patterns direct our daily decisions and we live our lives in a mesmerized state. See: Frank Mesmer This is irresponsibility and passivity at its fullest. But these are behaviors practiced by the majority because it is easy.
So what’s the antidote? You have to find out what motivates you – reading about others’ success is often helpful. 50 Secrets of Rich & Famous. But it still comes down to how much of a difference do you want to make in life? to your organization? to your family? None of it comes by accident or by fate.
It’s Monday – what one thing will you do today to break the status quo in your personal/professional life?
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