I’m typically an impatient person. But tell me a good story about an incredible (or even a mildly interesting) journey and I will sit in rapt attention. For example, I never get bored reading, watching or listening to anything about Lewis and Clark’s journey to the Pacific ocean.
I think my fascination with any journey is why I love driving change.
I once thought (and my naive’ reading of many business books led me to believe) that change is a near instantaneous process of: Boss reads a book Monday, implements changes on people Tuesday, is showered with praise from now cheerful people Wednesday, gets big promotion to corporate headquarters Thursday and is celebrated at farewell party Friday.
Turns out, it doesn’t usually work that way.
When I was slogging through a partially successful (and terribly slow) implementation of Theory of Constraints or failing at my first Guiding Coalition attempt, I didn’t realize that I was on a journey.
Now that I’m older and wiser, and know how to drive change (versus drive people to change), I enjoy the journey and–surprisingly enough–I drive a whole lot faster toward my destination.
Plus, now when I hit a snag, a pothole or a tree, I don’t get discouraged.
Those things happen on a journey.
So I pick myself, look around for what or who I’ve still got with me and–most importantly–keep going.
[How do I do this? I can’t quickly explain, so I’ll borrow some pictures. Think Jim Collins’ flywheel and Stockdale Paradox mixed with Stephen Covey’s Be Proactive and Circle of Influence.]
I won’t say today that I’ve really reached the destination of my journey.
I’m not quite ready to yell with Clark, “Ocean in view!”
But…if I tilt my head and take a deep breath, I can smell the scent of salt water a little ways off; and now and then I’ve seen a few gulls fly overhead. So, I keep driving.
If you love a good journey, consider driving change.
If you love a good journey story, keep checking this blog. I have a few good journey stories to share.
If you’ve got a journey story you want to tell, let me know. I’ll consider posts from guest bloggers.
Keep driving your change, maybe that ocean is closer than you think.
It’s those life experiences that shape and define who you are and ultimately what contribution you will make… not only to your organization, but also to your friends and family.
I have to admit that the Aerosmith song started playing in my head as I was reading… “life’s a journey, not a destination…” lol.
I agree with Mike – we could not be who we are had we not gathered our experience.
regarding “…failing at my first Guiding Coalition attempt…”, failure is only an indication you are actually doing something 8-).
Pat