THE ONLY ONE YOU CAN CHANGE

Your employees, your customers, perhaps, even a few of your friends are on your “have to change them” list. Every day, as a small business owner, you work hard at trying to change someone. It may be a prospect that doesn’t want to buy your product or service or a friend that doesn’t see things your way.

Countless books have been written and many seminars have been held on how to change another person.  Many “tricks of the trade” are shared at these functions, mostly how to manipulate someone else.

The only control you have over change is the change you can make in yourself. You have to change and when you do, you may get that sale you are working so hard to obtain. By change, I don’t mean changing your core values or beliefs, but change your posture, your mannerisms, the words you use in your presentation, your demeanor, or even the way you dress. When you make a change in yourself, you will have a different effect on those you interact with, and the right change will help you reach your goals.

You may be able to change the bottom line in your business by changing your work habits, or the order in which you do things. Simple changes such as smiling more can have a profound effect on everything you do.

A statement that I use when giving a talk is, “The reason the failure rate among small businesses is around 9 out of 10, is not because they don’t know what to do, but because they don’t do what they know they should do.”

It took me many years to learn that in order to succeed you have to change, to do the things you know should be done and to be open to others and accept the opportunities presented to you when a change is required.

When we receive tools in our business lives that can possibly change our business from a survival mode to a profitable and sustainable mode, you have to make a change; you have to pick up those tools and use them.

External changes or disruptive happenings may change your business model or cause your business to fail if you don’t make the necessary changes in your business. The important message I am sharing is that in all cases you have to make the change. Committing to a change may sound good when the idea first comes to mind, but then procrastination (I call it laziness) sets in and status quo wins again.

Where are you in the game of change?

Change is a good thing!  Embrace it!