What, when, how, and why to CHANGE? Why is it important?
Every people I know wants change, and I even want change so badly. For what purpose exactly? Why do we crave change?
And how exactly to change? What if there’s nothing to be changed?
First off, WHY change?
After all, you can’t just simply wish for change when there’s nothing to change, is it? You can’t just want change when there’s nothing wrong and everything is going smoothly.
Problem is, life rarely works that way, and human beings like me have flaws. Therefore, the need to change is always there. That’s why we’re already at this stage wherein we’re technologically advanced. It’s one of the few obvious ones that come into the existence of our generation.
There’s always an innovation going on. Disruptions, revolutionary improvements, paperless transactions, drones, Mars, blockchains. People always wish for change because it’s the constant thing in this world, and they always have this deep, inner desire to improve things even if there’s nothing to improve.
Also, it’s equally important for us to recognize what needs to change, and where do we start. And that’s where our mistakes, the WHYs comes into play.
For example, in school, if your study habits don’t yield any results in your grades, then you probably need to change your study habits because it’s not resulting in good grades.
Other than that, here are the clear signs when you need to change:
You make a change when you make mistakes
How exactly can you change without making mistakes? How to actually know you’re making a change if you don’t know your objective?
At some point in my life, I have some depressing moments. I think all of us have one. Moments that led me to think I’m a failure and can’t actually do better in my life. I’ve made mistakes which I thought I can’t get over with.
Finally, I acknowledge my mistakes and concluded that something has to change because negativity is affecting my whole life. I take action instead of letting depression get the best out of me. Like any other people, I also have a fair share of ups and downs in life. But I didn’t let it affect me because I need to improve.
Change comes in learning from the mistakes of our past. Realising that it’s a mistake. When our lives are not improving and got sucked in a negative situation for a long time. Then finally taking an action to address it.
Good thing I was able to recognize that and was able to make a change in my whole life for the better.
You make a change when the process or your current “role” is not making an improvement in your life
When things stay the same and your life is getting worse and worse, then it’s time for a change.
When you were a student, we all had this expectation that once we graduate and we get a job, we have this big smile and satisfaction that we just need to let our employers take responsibility in our wages and benefits. Because basically we’re done. Only to realize there’s so much we need to do, and we get disappointed because our life is getting worse and worse.
We have to admit that when we’re students, we barely see the reality of the world and the responsibilities we have to bear. It’s as if we were blindfolded all this time and got trapped in our 4 walls of the school. It’s what I was thinking all that time because we still assume the role of a “student”.
And as a student, what is our responsibility? Our role? To get good Grades.
We all care for grades. The rest of our time is spent on enjoying, chilling, playing videogames and such. Clamouring for instant gratification that does nothing but makes us feel good TEMPORARILY, while reality is slowly knocking on our very doors waiting to be opened one of these days.
Years later, after we got our degree, I see some people who still assume the role of a “student”. And those same people were asking me if how can they make a change in their lives. How can they make their dreams come true? How can they reach it like I did?
Now the problem here is very obvious: They haven’t CHANGED their roles and prepared their mindset to change roles the moment they step out of school.
And the answer? CHANGE their ROLE and go for whatever your goals are. Paradigm Shift. Once you accept that you have a different role right now, you’re going to make your daily habits surrounding that role. And that leads to CHANGE.
In reality, we were unsatisfied with how things were going in our lives. We can’t seem to improve it no matter what we do. We still fall into the same, old destructive habits that don’t allow us to move on with our lives. We can’t seem to improve our relationship, can’t get on some dates and forge long-lasting relationships, our dreams remained a dream. Nothing is changing, nothing is working.
And our list of frustrations goes on….
The only way to get rid of that same frustrating cycle is to CHANGE our ROLE mindset. We change our role, and we change our habits as well. It’s all about our mindset.
You don’t necessarily change roles LITERALLY. Just in your MINDSET. For example, even though I was working as a Web Developer who develops the business needs of my clients, I assume the role(within my mindset) as a Businessman. And if I assume that role mentally, I now am more interested in the business side of things rather than technical implementations, and act as if I am really a businessman. I’m now more interested in our sales projections, and how to improve the process in the team. It’s really helping to change your role mentally.
It is helpful because I am learning how the business works, more interested in the business model, while still fulfilling the requirements of a Web Development.
Now it allowed me to learn how to monetize web apps than just simply thinking to only care about technical implementations. MINDSET and changing your ROLES(mentally) alone are equally important if we really want to get our goals in life.
In order to make a change, consider your pivot point
Eric Ries calls this the “pivot” point. You could also say that this refers to the need to change the direction of whatever you’re doing right now to create results. This simply can’t be done without a guide. More accurately, if you’re still doing the same thing all over again, you can’t expect that your life will change dramatically.
In the world of business, it’s equally important to know what direction that business idea is going. If it’s not making any profit nor taking off, then that’s your cue to pivot.
So what is pivot exactly?
It is a special kind of change designed to test a new fundamental hypothesis about the product, business model, and Engine of Growth.
In short, where do you “focus or spend” most of your time and attention to get the change you wanted.
When applying pivot into your life, it simply means going towards the direction where you will most likely improve. Know your strengths and weakness and be a better version of yourself.
You make a change when you find an existing flaw and improve it
Try to observe when the government is not performing and making the economy of our country better as expected, we unite and do something. When our organizations and workplace is not doing any progress we want to make the process and workflow better, we felt the need to change. When we felt we’re not happy in our current state we’re in, we felt the need to change and do something.
There’s a flaw. And you know it deep down. It’s been years since you felt that way, and that flaw is making you feel worse about yourself and the people affected by it.
If you’re not happy the way it is, then it’s time to make a change.
Lastly, HOW to change?
That depends on you. If you believe you create your own destiny like me, you create that change. And be that change.
Conclusion
No matter what areas of life you prioritize in, you will find out that the only way to improve your situation and get ahead in life is through CHANGE.
It’s not an easy thing to do, nor happens overnight. You need to endure and persist in the midst of making a change. No one will do it but you. And it won’t happen anytime soon unless you take action.
And embrace that CHANGE with open arms.
