How Change Could Be the Biggest Driver of Your Business Success.

​Every successful industry leader has learned to harness change. And you can too.
You deal with it every day.  
Some changes so small you barely notice.
While other times you get thrown for a loop.
Tiny to overwhelming. Subtle or disruptive. Expected or unexpected.
If you want lasting success, you must be open to change.
Because let’s face it…
… things Do Not stay the same. 

Opportunity Walks Hand in Hand with Change
Starting your business took massive change.
You adapted from having a boss to being the boss. Created and pushed your plans forward. Tested, tweaked and modified. And you can’t stop now…
Because, technology, artificial intelligence and globalization created a dizzying pace of change.
Bringing a sea of disruption right along with it.
Which isn’t going to slow down. Ever.
 
Never Rely on Past Successes to Guarantee Future Success
It’s easy to find companies who failed to harness change. They’re either out of business or no longer relevant. Think Sears, Blackberry, Kodak, Hummer or DeLorean.  Even Walmart struggles now.
Half of new businesses don’t last five years. And only 30 percent make it to ten.
Yet a number of companies are over 100 years old. Familiar names like, Exxon, General Electric, Coca-Cola, Procter and Gamble, I.B.M. and more.
Clearly, these companies  learned to harness the opportunities that change brought their way, as the world's a whole different place than it was a century ago.
Can you learn to take advantage of the opportunities change offers to find success in your own business?
As it turns out, you can.
 
Six Questions to Help You Convert Change into Business Success
Like all successful entrepreneurs, if you know the answer to the following questions, your business will remain competitive:

• What strategies can you adopt to recognize changes as they occur in your market?
• How can you react to change quickly— and profitably?
• When should you resist the urge to change—and when should you be open to fresh ideas?
• Should you make incremental changes in your business? Or implement big ones? Or both?
• How do you get your business back on track when unexpected changes threaten it?
• What resources, support networks and tools can you use to manage change successfully?

But managing business change in your business is just the tip of the iceberg.
You also need to manage your own response to it.
 
Six Questions to Help You Manage Your Personal Response to Change
The success of your business depends on how well you manage mental, physical and personal changes.
To make the most of opportunities, you must be aware of how you respond to change. Think about how you would answer these questions…

• Do you know your physical and emotional responses to dealing with change?
• If you resist change, how can you learn to be open to the opportunities it offers?
• Does optimism—or does pessimism—describe your approach to change?
• Can you condition yourself to find opportunity in change?
• How do you respond to natural changes—like the weather, seasons, or aging—compared to disruptive changes like new technology or a sluggish economy?
• Is it okay to change your mind?

Understanding your personal response to change is a key factor in harnessing change for success.
I know because I’ve discovered ways to turn change into success on both personal and business levels.
 
The Changes I’ve Seen—and the Secrets to Business Success I’ve Learned
Like you, I’ve been through a lot of change. 
In the past year alone, I hired a coach, bought a new car, quit my job, packed everything into storage and moved 858 kilometres (533 miles) to help my parents after my Dad fell off a ladder.
Within the last six months, I finally faced the truth and evicted my tenants for illegal activity, jump started my business, sold an investment house and paid off debts.
Some changes cost me money, some gave me strength and some were just plain fun.
I have dozens of stories… tips… and resources I’d like to share with you. But now it’s your turn…
What caused change in your life? Did you experience a ripple effect from change? What have you learned?
Please share the good, the bad and the ugly. Don’t hold back.
 
Let’s get the conversation going. Share your stories and thoughts below.