It is that
time of year when I reflect on what happened in the last year and recent past and look forward to the future.
From a high level view, the most dominant factor in our journey are the
continual changes that face us. Change is relentless.
Embrace
change? Should we embrace change? Maybe we should and maybe not. Not all change
is good.
Over the
last few decades’ pay phones disappeared. You can’t find a travel agent with a
search warrant. You really don’t need a checkbook anymore to do your banking and to
manage your finances. My new car doesn't even have a key. It has a FOB. What is
a FOB? When I have computer or software problems I consult with my
grandchildren. They know more than I do about technology. When and how did that happen? Yes, change is in the air and continues to happen.
My marquee
client manufactures environmental equipment. Their systems help clean up air
and water pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to
enact and enforce pollution laws that are progressively strangling business and
industry. Talk about relentless. The EPA has put business and industry under considerable
pressure and continues to tighten down on polluters. Business and industry, in
general, is not happy with these continual new rules (changes). On the other
hand, my client is delighted by the new and ever stricter regulations. For
them, this change is good, very good for business, it means money. So I guess the value of
change is subjective.
I am looking
forward to and planning my 2015 professional and personal life to the best of
my ability. Markets, opportunities, technologies, processes, procedures and people continue to
morph. I can’t stop change and don’t intend to try.
In my
opinion, the best way to deal with change is to identify and attempt to
understand changes and how they affect us. Once understood, we can deal with change,
good, bad or indifferent and leverage it to your advantage and future success.
