Who’s guilty of this?
“I’m really going to start journaling this week.”
“I REALLY AM going to lose 10kg for summer.”
“My mind is all over the place; I should finally try meditation.”
Embracing change, or even leading change, is something all of us aspire towards.
It’s part of our basic human instinct.
We all want to progress in some way – not only for ourselves but for our family, friends and even the broader community.
If you’re anything like me, you can be mesmerised by any number of inspirational catalysts that appear daily via emails, books, movies, and social feeds.
You feel compelled to make a positive change just as often.
That is until the phone rings, the next Instagram story pops up or something smashes in the kitchen and your child screams.
Sound familiar?
The trouble with embracing change is that it’s so often only momentary. We’re all guilty of it. Who’s made a New Year’s resolution only to keep it for just a day, a week or a month?
If you didn’t raise your hand I suspect you’re fibbing.
What about embracing change in the workplace? How often have you thought of an idea or solution that would create a better way of doing things that still hasn’t seen the light of day?
The subject of making change is something that is deeply and intrinsically connected to me.
A series of changes I committed to over the past year inspired me to write this article.
Like many others, I had time to reflect on my life, what it was like and what I wanted it to be when the COVID-19 lockdown was in full swing.
I enjoyed spending time in the slow lane for a while, and it made me realise I’d been burning the candle at both ends.
I had embraced change about 10 months earlier, and I was one of the first agents in Victoria to use Openn Negotiation, before taking the biggest risk of my professional career and making the move to work for the platform.
Beyond my pestering subconscious, which consistently nags for personal improvement, I genuinely believe we can all embrace change.
Back in 2016, I’d achieved my dream and become a partner in a successful real estate business with a healthy rent roll, a fantastic team around me, happy customers and an income most aspire to achieve.
As I reflect now, a lot of my success as an agent had come through the commitment to making positive change.
Such as choosing to pioneer auctions at a time when most opted to use private sale.
What is it easy? No. Was I initially resistant? Of course.
When you get to the heart of resistance to change, it ultimately boils down to fear.
It might be your fear, or the fears of those around you.
“We’ve always done it this way.”
“It won’t work in this market.”
“I just don’t have the time right now.”
All of this resistance equates to fear.
I don’t profess to be an expert on change. I’d tender I harbour more doubt and fear than the next person.
Contending with fear and initiating change will, at the very least, provide you with a lesson. More often than not, it makes you emerge as a more courageous person.
So the next time an opportunity presents, I challenge you to listen.
Listen with an open mind and embrace the risk of disappointment – for there might just be a chance of making a real difference.
Remember: nobody left a legacy by preserving the status quo.
Will Ainsworth is the Head of Growth and Training for Openn Negotiation.
