Transformation
I had a conversation with a very good friend of mine the other day about transformation. Transformation is defined as the operation of changing. That is a pretty broad description as it can be about a handful of variables. Companies go through transformations when their original business plan changes or when they go from 5 employees to 20 to 200. Homes go through transformations when a new family moves in or a room is redone or even a couch is moved. Getting your hair cut in a new way is a transformation.
I could go on and on about transformation. More than likely that conversation helped me think about how my life has transformed over the past decade. It has taken on another level of transformation since becoming empty nesters this past September. Over the past ten years as I shifted into a new career, one that I have created and built without a clear path except the desire to do something that I love has been transformative. In many ways only over the last six months have I felt that I have come into myself. I know longer feel like I need to reassess my balance but just enjoy the path I am on. If things change then I can transform into something else. That is empowering.
We are living a bi-coastal existence that is transformative into itself. Our relationships with our children have changed into the next stage because they are adults. All of this feels so good.
I heard Fred tell someone that I do four things well maybe more. I write a daily blog, I invest in start-ups and get involved, I put on a festival every year and I am slowly building a real estate empire on the side. All of these things happened over the past decade. It sounds like crazy that someone could do all that (and there is more) but for me it works. It has been a transformative decade.
Having that conversation with my friend continues to ramble around my head. The importance of this conversation is really to think about where you are and how do you get to where you want to be. You have to work at it but sometimes you are just working away and all of a sudden you look up and you realize that you have transformed. You have made a dramatic change or even a subtle change. I have always loved change. Perhaps that is why I am kind of obsessed with transformation.
Comments (Archived):
So funny. Just last night, bourbon in hand, I was reflecting on how most people resist change, how that holds society back, and it’s the few who embrace change that push things forward.But what a burden that can be. You have to either love the fight towards change, simply need change in order to be at peace, or ideally both.I think I need change more than I love it. Which is frustrating.
Many people are so uncomfortable with change. I love it. Probably just part of my DNA.
I come from a family that very much does not embrace change, on either side.So my mother says I probably need change because I’m an Aquarius, Taurus rising. Lol.
Change of any kind involves risk. There are valid reasons to avoid risk.Most mothers that I have met will not even pull their kids out of the school district they are fearful that that one simple change like that will create unacceptable tumult in their lives.I have many examples of that but I will give this one example:When my ex wife remarried and wanted to move one town over with her new husband (to a newer nicer house) one of my kids wanted to stay in her existing school district and commute. My ex wife was considering allowing them to do that. I told them “you are social and you will make friends at the new school” and I was flatly against them not changing schools. So in the end they listened and went to the new school and everything was fine.I had to push my daughter to try and get a job in NYC. She wanted to return to where her mother lived after college (last year) and get a job there. I said “this is where you want to be please please consider doing that”. She got a job, loves it, and recently got a raise to boot. The change was difficult for her, and she had to be pushed, but in the end after having someone (me) help her overcome the fear of the change she ended up accepting and loving the change. [1][1] They key is providing perspective and addressing the fears and/or presenting the opportunity for change as a positive and not a negative to be avoided and remain complacent.
Change isn’t essentially good or bad- circumstances can call for it but they can also call for things to stay the same. Which is hard if you need it for its own sake.
how most people resist change, how that holds society backPeople act in their self interest which is not only obvious but understandable. If someone wants to run a freeway through my neighborhood that is going to be good for people who would like a shorter commute. But I am going to block it just the same.Can you name some examples of “how most people resist change” where it isn’t for preservation of their own (often understandable) self interest?Union workers blocked ezpass until a deal was cut with them. What would you expect them to do applaud getting kicked out of a job?
All the time, people resist change because they *think* its in their best interest, when often it’s not.Example:Uninsured racist person: We shouldn’t have had a black president. Obama supporter: But he made it so you can have healthcare now!Uninsured racist person: But still.
.I am going to have to call bullshit on your example. That is provocative and self serving.I am a virulent racist and I provided health insurance for my employees in big and small companies for 33 years. Not just health but life, dental, vision and wellness.I didn’t need a black or a white President to tell me what to do. I just did it because it was good business.OK, so maybe I’m not really a virulent racist but it’s hard to find a sentence in which to turn the word “virulent” loose in these days.JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…
I think the thing to remember is that the example isn’t representative of you. You’re too intelligent a person to pin a decision for whom to vote on a single issue as trivial as race.But not everyone is you.
Embracing change is the key to creating your own relevance as you move through life.When you no longer do this you are simply looking backwards and the game if kinda over.
wow. embrace embrace!!
Beautifully phrased…Yes transformation is amazing and it is wonderful when we can embrace change.
.Transformative or evolutionary?We all have about 7 careers in us if we will just turn them loose.So far I have been a professional soldier, a business peon, a builder, an entrepreneur, a real estate developer, a public company CEO, a CEO coach and a writer.Oh, no, that’s 8!Is this a great country or what?JLMwww.themusingsofthebigredca…
I’m with Arnold. To stop transforming is to stop living. I know people who struggle with dissatisfaction with their lives, and I really feel it’s because they believe they’re supposed to be able to “stop” now (mid-life). If there’s one thing I’m terrified of, it’s stopping!Transformation is free, requires no special equipment and has no prerequisites. How may things can you say that about?Your sentiment is very Zen, I think. Transformation is like the treasure chest of riches right under your nose 🙂
Nicely said.I believe this is a mantra that a huge population of people will begin to embrace.
bully for you! trying to make a similar transformation and it’s frigging hard.
Yes it is
as I grit my teeth and grumble under my breath.