Adaptation Doesn't Equal Fun

Change is often driven by some form of necessity. And that means it isn't often what we choose. Are you part of a boring, under performing, status quo organization? Do you have aspirations to make it something different? Do you want to help create a more dynamic, team-driven and passionate culture?

People will give you grief.

Some will dig at you slowly, dragging their feet, others will come at you with Howitzers, ready to splatter you. All the people who have settled for a calm, slow death will be upset that you are doing something that agitates their complacency.

You will gain some friends but you'll gain enemies as well. Add to that a sizable middle group that will treat you with baffled indifference, applauding when the winds blow your way, picking up rocks when it doesn't.

Certain individuals will, despite your successes, remind you only of your failings. You'll put together a great project, worry over it, toil in seeing it come to life, protect it, fight for it, pull it off, and then some of those who don't want you to succeed will invest their energies in making sure that whatever you missed is clearly communicated. 


You will sometimes be alone in your pursuit (but don't get all lone-ranger egotistical about it because sometimes when you are alone it's because you really are off the bubble).

Make sure you aren't running solo if you can help it (we all need freaky friends, as Tom Peters reminds us) but, still, you'll find from time to time that you are pulling the bulk of the load as people second guess, get scared, get angry, or get jealous. That isn't fun, not at all.

But working for change means that you are saying that what was there isn't enough, or, to be more hopeful, that there could be a more fulfilling and effective way of living, being a family, or working. And that will anger people who have a mostly-sure stake in the current system and uncertain prospects in the system you are proposing. Avoiding change is a high priority for some while for others constant disruption is an addiction. Most of us experience the moving target between those extremes.

Keep moving. Stay committed. Be humble. Laugh.