Intent on change

Kelli Rodda

In 1971 David Bowie recorded an astute observation about change.

“Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
(turn and face the strain)
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

I love the line about “don’t want to be a richer man … just gonna have to be a different man …” because it ties in perfectly with this time of year. It’s basically a resolution, and it speaks volumes about what’s important. Perhaps my interpretation of the song is a bit different, but I don’t want to be a richer person in terms of wealth. I want to be a different person in terms of how I view and treat my fellow man, and how I spend my time.

The New Year brings reflections of events from the previous year and plans for future changes. While resolutions, and the people who make them, are often the subject of much teasing, they’re just goals about positive changes. Why the ribbing? Maybe it’s because some resolution makers are overzealous (re: annoying), or because so many resolutions are tossed out with the empty champagne bottles and noise makers from the New Year’s parties.

According to Statistic Brain, the top 10 resolutions in 2014 were: lose weight, get organized, spend less/save more, enjoy life to the fullest, stay healthy, learn something exciting, quit smoking, help others in their dreams, fall in love, and spend more time with family. Time magazine reports that the most commonly broken resolutions are: lose weight, get fit, quit smoking, learn something new, eat healthier, get out of debt, save money, and spend more time with family, to name a few. See the parallels? I’ve made and broken many of those same resolutions. It’s not that they’re unattainable, but most of these are so vague. If instead you pulled out small pieces of these resolutions, chances are you’ll have more success. It’s no different in business. Be a little more specific with your resolutions and include a couple of action plans. Instead of “We’re going to increase our social media presence,” replace that with, “We'll log three blog posts a week and have a Twitter contest each month.”

Change is sometimes a strain. Some people are completely rigid when it comes to change. I doubt those people have much success in business or in their personal lives. It’s my wish that in this New Year, change is not a strain on you, but an accepted and valuable part of life. Happy New Year everyone!