A1 How To

All of us, no matter who we are, face relentless change and transition in life. Whether they are changes created externally, such as those engendered by global events, or those triggered internally by personal maturation processes, or other adjustments required to life events such as the birth of a new baby, beginning a new job, family separation, divorce, or the death of a family member. Unfortunately, life never stands still and as a result, neither can we.

Noted change management guru, William Bridges, has identified a simple three-step model for understanding and coping with the changes in our lives:

1. Endings

I really like this model because it reminds us that all changes - whether the “good” ones or the “bad” ones - start with something in our lives that is ending. Notwithstanding how much we might be excited about the new venture (e.g., beginning college, new job, getting married, moving), the change first of all requires that we give something up.

We generally have to turn away from the well-known, the familiar, and the comfortable. This may take the form of modifications to existing relationships, relocating from a neighborhood where we’ve lived for years, releasing our recognized position of “authority” or being the “go-to” person at the job. Possibly we’ll have to give up a social circle that we’ve had for our entire lives. Pals with whom we attended school. A memory-filled house, with a great backyard for cook-outs, plenty of room for the kids and all their buddies. Perhaps it’s something as simple as a short commute to work.

But, regardless of the adjustment in our life, probably the first thing(s) that we’ll notice are the things that we are required say goodbye to.

2. Neutral Zone

The next stage of the model is probably the hardest one. We’ve released all the established, secure, comfortable, familiar things that we’ve relied upon to simplify our typical decision-making processes, friends we can share our trials and tribulations with, all the tried and true “safety nets” we’ve integrated into our lives: the insurance agent we’ve relied upon, our child’s schoolteacher that we’ve been able to have some really good parent-teacher conversations with, the community center where we’ve become well established and have a strong support network.

The Neutral Zone is the time where all the “old stuff” has to be left behind, but the required new support infrastructure hasn’t yet been created, or if existing, they are still new and rather fragile.

Living can be somewhat frightening in the Neutral Zone as you live in a state of novelty, ambiguity and uncertainty. But determination and perseverence are the keys to a successful passage through the Neutral Zone.

3. Beginnings

Step by step, over time, we get things established for our new venture. If we’ve just started college, we’ve found all our classes, met the professors, developed a social network, and perhaps joined a fraternity or sorority. If starting a new job, we’ve overcome the initial shock of not even knowing where the water cooler and the rest rooms are, to being a full-fledged team member, and we’ve learned a lot about how to peform the duties expected of us. We’ve met our chain of command and many of our peers (perhaps there’s even someone newer to the team than we are). If establishing a new business, we’ve got the basic foundations established. We’ve probably found a new home, unpacked most (if not all) the boxes. We know where the best food stores, pharmacies, cleaners, gas stations, beauty salons, and emergency clinics are found.

Things are gradually settling into a normal schedule, and life is becoming more stable - and more predictable every day (although it will never become utterly static, or static).

We’re assimilating the change and growing into our new roles and adapting to our new situation.

This takes time. The worst thing you can do is expect that it will transpire overnight - it won’t. Give yourself, and your family, enough time and space, to assimilate the change - and they will!

If the current transition in your life means that you’ll be beginning your own business, check out the IIP Max Pro System to see how it can help you maximize your profits and master working online, using the identical system that internet millionaires have used to make their millions.

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