Embrace Change: Hardest Thing Ever

In the military, power and influence derive from regimen and imitation of one’s peers and those who came before. Previous battles serve as schools for study and mastery. Repetition of action is encouraged so that when this or that occurring will trigger automated responses, quickly and lethally.

Consistency, trustworthiness and steadfastness of purpose achieve immediate, supreme rewards for those who absorb their lessons, right on up to positions of admiral and general.

Change means the pain of new-learning, without rule or precedence. “But every response has not been defined and bound into a pamphlet or book. What should I do and when should I do it?” the military man and women might ask regarding unknown, emerging technologies.

Some of today’s new soldiers and sailors, however, do understand and recognize that the pace of learning and change speeds up reponses. Yet, they also can fit uneasily into the uniformed structures, or eventually succumb to the inevitable - - don't fight the system if it ain't broke. Learn it, play it, rise to the top.

In this book, a central/hard-to-miss theme builds upon the opposite of this core idea. It’s not so much that change is good and that change is progress. It’s more along the lines of "change responses" MUST CHANGE, and fast. The old ways (automated responses based upon what you know or your predecessors knew) seem important, but much less applicable in a world in which the time-line of product and service adoption has been compressed. While it may have taken radio years to be universally adopted, the I-Phone from Apple has ALREADY been adopted by HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS of customers in just weeks. Seeing it confounds thinking - - why didn't I think of this? I gotta have one. The screen is so large; the functions so simple and elegant; the packaging so unique.

Those challenging its supremacy - - its uniqueness, breakthrough functions, positioning with early adopters - - will suffer anxiety, failure and a new powerlessness.

Break through the clutter of one’s own perceptions and habitual responses to generate influence and respect among one’s colleagues. Become “Master and Commander” of one’s own fate by acceptance and understanding of what one sees and reads about “out there” on the Internet and in the trade press.

You never know: The next “new wheel” awaits the power and influence maker to embrace through training, comprehending and, even, adoption. While never rubbing one’s noses into these new technologies, just understanding and embracing them may be enough to prevent being pushed aside by one’s bosses seeking greater, larger truths. Boss this new wheel, let me show you how it works, may take us to the next level of quality. I’ll keep watching and learning about it. Let’s keep it on our radar, especially if your competitors don’t.

Simple, non-threatening and career-enhancing. Good things!