The Process of Change

The Process of Change
By Anthony McCune

Change is an issue we face every day. Can I go about this differently; is there a way I can do this better; will leaving the old behind or embracing the new improve the quality of my life?

People may recognize the need to make changes. They may understand the benefits change will bring. They may truly want to see the process happen. A basic problem is understanding how to change.

Our behavior is largely based on habits. We don’t think; we do. Understanding that is the first step leading to change.

Change begins with the way you think about something.

A concerted effort is required. Practice, learn to think differently about the behavior you wish to change. Don’t expect to fully achieve the change instantly or even over a short-time. It is a process built upon the foundation of acceptance.

It is necessary to maintain a level of awareness regarding what you have done, the way you have done it and the result you are seeking to accomplish. Some days you’ll be more successful than others. The key is recognition.

If your actions do not reflect the change in behavior you want to accomplish, you need to recognize it. Accept that will happen at times and then continue the process. Habits are developed over time; change requires time as well. As long as you know when you’re falling back into the old habit it will be easier to change.

Given time, and practice, you will begin to think differently about that behavior. The change of thinking will bring a change in your action. The action will achieve a result that you desire. Success will reinforce that behavior. The behavior you wanted when you identified the need for change.

Changing the way you think, acting in a different way will change the way you feel about that particular behavior. That positive outcome will reinforce the importance of carrying forth the new attitude, the new belief you have developed in terms of that behavior.

Change the way you think; to change the way you act; to change the way you feel. That, in a nutshell, is the process of change.

Navigating The Journey Of Life

Navigating The Journey Of Life
By Anthony McCune

Would we live our lives differently if we knew how much time we actually would have on the planet?

The four “biggest” words in the English language are said to be would’ve, could’ve, should’ve and if.

Theory is one thing. In the real world, though, life is not lived in a logical, preplanned sequence where events come in a straight forward, rational fashion. We travel the highways, byways and back roads of life. There are long, broad valleys and grand, towering peaks which we must traverse Our opinions are influenced by experience; our memories colored by perception.

Everyone, philosophically, should be given a fair chance to prove themselves good or bad; worthy of our time or a waste of precious minutes; considerate of others or self centered. There is no thoughtful, reasonable evaluation of “who” or “what” a person is, though. In the first five to ten seconds of meeting an individual a seed is planted in our mind and we judge that person. That initial assessment can be powerful; whether it is accurate or totally off base.

Time is fickle. There are days and weeks that seem like they will never end. Yet years pass by in what appears to be the snap of your fingers.

How often do we take time for self reflection? What consideration is there, not only of our relationships with family, friends and co-workers, but the difference we can make in our community and the impact we can have on the world at large?

Thankfully, we have the power of choice. We are able to learn new things; to benefit from our mistakes. We are able to reconsider our positions. We can adjust our course. Outcomes are not predestined.

Seeds planted may mature to be harvested…or the fruit may die on the vine. The result is impacted by the situation in which an organism exists; if conditions to facilitate a positive outcome are present; whether nurturing is provided that will be beneficial and if the strength of the effort put forth to succeed is sufficient.

My advice is to be thankful for each day; to make the most of the opportunities life brings your way; to endure the difficulties and enjoy the pleasures; to be thankful for the life with which you have been blessed; and finally to understand that each of us travels an individual journey and each of us are at the same time connected.

Make The Decision To Succeed

Make The Decision To Succeed
By Anthony McCune

Communication is faster and access to information is more readily available today than it has ever been. Ease of communication will increase. The ability to obtain the information you need will improve. On the other hand, the amount of time you have to make a decision that will benefit or harm the success of your endeavor will decrease.

If you have something good to offer, you must let the people who need it know about it. The step you take or choose not to take today will have ramifications for your business tomorrow.

Will your potential customer learn of, be contacted by, or worse yet, buy from your competitor who has a product or service that is inferior to what you offer?

What if this happens because you had an idea, or were given a suggestion, that you needed to think about; wanted to give additional consideration; took more time to further contemplate; had to have another look at, and/or felt you needed to seek out advice from just one more person before making the decision?

What if in the meantime, your competitor had the same idea or was given the same suggestion. Your competitor, unlike you, makes a yes, “go forward”, or a no, “move on”, decision.

If the decision was correct or incorrect, a decision was made as to the action that would be taken. The person will either benefit from or deal with the ramifications resulting from their decision. Whichever the case may be, the impact on your company will result from internal action.

Overthinking, delaying or having difficulty pulling the trigger can all significant effect the productivity of your decision. Any of these factors can put you in a position where the impact on your company is determined by the actions of someone else. Do you want YOUR business to be put in that position?

A yes or no decision, over time, will be determined to have been right or wrong. There are many variables that impact situations; we all know only hindsight is 20/20. There is no way, though, to avoid the fact that a decision today effects tomorrow one way or another to a lesser or greater degree.

Results of a single decision can extend through the life of your business. A single decision can lead to your endeavor thriving. Or your great idea, your groundbreaking solution, your better way of doing things can wither and die on the vine.

The ability to put ego aside, to be open to new ideas, to have the willingness to accept advice are all matters one must consider in relation to their decision making process.
The most common problem that causes companies to either not be as successful as possible or to fail is easily identifiable. A person enters the business world possessing a core competency in their given field of endeavor. Problems arise when that person extends beyond their area of expertise to become personally involved in other areas that would be better handled by people hired to do those jobs.

Delegating, trusting the people to whom you assign tasks and having the willingness to roll the dice with their work product are all critical factors. These considerations directly impact the ability to make good decisions in an expedient fashion and execute tasks that make your company more successful.

Make the decision to succeed.