Many people are unhappy with their lives but don’t know how to change them. In fact they are even resistant to making any kind of change due to fear or apathy or both. This applies to businesses as much as individuals. A fundamental shift means rocking the foundations of an individuals’ life or a company’s core purpose.
Sometimes the fundamental shift required for change results from external forces. Certainly Volkswagen are going to have to make a fundamental shift in their business model if they are to survive their current crisis. I had to completely re-evaluate my life after the train crash and take a long hard look at what I really wanted to do. Having been an exceedingly successful financial advisor there was nothing to say I could not go back after my recovery and do the same type of work; but I chose not to.
The status quo can seem very appealing- it seems safe, is the known, not the scary unknown, but is that really all there is to life? Every time you turn on the news it is full of gloom and doom, poor economic outlook, everyone needs to tighten their belts. This is negative reinforcement of the worst kind because it paralyses and stifles creativity. Risk is “BAD” yet governments call for entrepreneurial spirit whilst simultaneously preaching caution in all things.
A Fundamental shift is needed to create prosperity
If individuals and business takes advice from the 24 hour negatively reinforcing media then the UK and World economies will stagnate. We will all adopt a “bunker” mentality where we are too scared to try anything new and like sheep we follow the negative doomsday-ers and naysayers who would have us stay put and stay silent.
Steps towards a fundamental shift
- This may sound odd, but your first step needs to be acceptance. Accept what you truly cannot change but challenge what you can. Banging your head against a brick wall is not business common sense but asking why the wall is there in the first place is an innovative approach.
- Your next step, either as an individual or a business is to ask, “WHY?” Challenge that age old response, “We’ve always done it this way” with the question why? No fundamental shift will take place if you do not understand that many traditional ways of doing things no longer have a foundation in the 21st The rationale behind certain behaviours may be steeped in tradition but traditions are created by people not institutions and new ones can be made.
- Challenge apathy- it is not that we cannot change things, it is that we don’t want to. A fundamental shift needs to take place in people’s thinking about their own power. Look at the growth of crowd funding- that is people power at its most pure- putting their own money behind something they believe in.
- Become a catalyst for change. Follow your curiosity by not just asking why, but why not?
Why making a fundamental shift is necessary
When the olds ways of working, are not working it takes a fundamental shift to get onto the right track. Old ways can create a quagmire of rules and regulations and practices that are nigh on impossible to tweak into success. Minor changes in practice will not create the change necessary to bring success and prosperity whether individual or corporate. A radical change in approach is required so fundamental principles have to be held up for scrutiny. If you look at some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the Internet world- they started their careers and continue doing so by giving away valuable information- no charge. Yes, they wanted to make money but they started from a point of generosity, of educating their followers. They can charge a goodly sum for their high level expertise and do so for private coaching. However, they still give away valuable information for free to new and existing followers alike.
TGI Fridays was in the doldrums back in 2008 when the new chief executive shifted the whole focus of the brand back onto people. It was a fundamental shift in approach and it worked. They won the Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to work for award in 2015.
Making a fundamental shift in your life or your business may seem daunting at first but how you approach that shift will determine its success. Don’t wait, like VW to be caught out and forced into change. Approach your fundamental shift with passion and excitement and it will succeed.