Why would you get into a wrestling ring without knowing any moves, who your opponent was or how to get a “time out” when you were in trouble?
The answer: YOU WOULDN’T!
Then why do you rush into situations in your life without having a plan for success?
Do you have a plan?
Every situation: job, business venture and expansion, relationship has the perfect time to “get” in. Too many times we plunge in without truly evaluating our part and how we fit or whether it’s a good fit at all! How many times have you lamented – “Why did I do that?” “Why didn’t I do that?”
Or, “I thought of that” – but you didn’t do anything about it.
When you are making decisions for your business, taking a new job, starting or ending a relationship – those can be MASSIVE changes in your life. Why not use a tool that can make those less painful?
Every business, every organization, every association, every relationship has its own culture.
Each industry has their own acronyms, which is their language! I once convinced a company to hire me because I had worked for a competitor and would save them time and money because I understood the lingo! Yep, I got the job!
We can give ourselves an edge if we emulate what the Big companies do.
They aren’t always first, but they are always on the lookout for the next trend – sometimes they see which way the market is headed and then make sure when the get” in, they do it right. There are good ideas everywhere if you just take the time to look and listen. There was a commercial that showed people observing different trends as they walked around the city and then called their broker and bought those stocks. Remember the one I’m talking about?
Would you like to have that kind of success?
The person in the commercial was noticing what was starting to happen, not focused on what HAD happen. You can do that too. But you have to tune out the noise…
In this day and age, the desire to be noticed, to grab our “15 minutes of fame,” puts us on social media with an obsession. We are convinced that everyone will be thrilled to hear about all our adventures and successes and be impressed by us.
But here’s what actually happens: have you ever been in a venue where the noise is so deafening that you can’t understand a word anyone is saying? That’s what happens when there is so much noise – your message isn’t heard anymore – it’s just noise.
But, what if you were judicious in how you communicated? What if you KNEW when to get the most notice?
You “listen,” hear what others are saying and THEN enter into the conversation.
The superpower of the chameleon! Here’s the misconception of the chameleon – some studies suggest that the “chameleon effect” is a mimicking of others in order to be “like” them – yes I’m using the dreaded quote marks – but I contend that it isn’t that at all – the chameleon is still a chameleon – so what I’m saying is – you are still you – you are just emulating the chameleon’s skill set.
The chameleon observes the chaos around him, waits, quietly blends in until the perfect time to reveal himself in all his glory. He doesn’t become the tree, he doesn’t become a frog, he is a chameleon. AND he is the master at adapting to change.
I was talking to a woman the other day and she was telling me that every time she decided to make a career change, went through all the training and by the time she finished – the career was no longer viable. How could she have used the superpowers of the chameleon?
By the time you and I hear about it (remember the noise I was talking about before?) – It’s already passed the common person by. The “insiders” are on to the next thing and we’re left wondering how to get into the ring for success.
So, this is not a “do-nothing” moment – the “pause button” is not the stop button – it’s the opportunity to take a deep breath moment, evaluate your direction, and “listen” for the next “big thing” – do some research in your field – what are you “hearing” people say, what’s the “sub-text” of the conversation – adapt to the new way of thinking – yep – that word again – and it can take you onto the mat for success.
Once you put this into practice, you will KNOW the moves, you will KNOW who your opponent is and you will KNOW how to call for a time out when you get in trouble.
Just remember the tortoise and the hare – who won that race? Not the hare who was a whirling dervish – no it was the slow and steady wins the race turtle – he knew the power of the chameleon – even though he wasn’t in the story…
As you can tell – I’m pretty partial to the chameleon – I wear him on my shoulder, he’s on the cover of my book, “The Adapter Factor: When Change Scares the Hell Out of You – hey, I wrote the book, but I still need reminding!
Whether your challenge is in your field of Human Resources, Sales, Entrepreneurial, real estate, or corporate; whether its relationship driven; whether it’s how to cope with a recent retirement – hit that “pause button” – the first step in The Adapter Factor skill-set, when change is staring you in the face, when you feel like you’ve lost your identity – this week, whenever you find yourself in a situation where you have to make a decision, hit the “pause button,” think about what the chameleon would do and channel his superpowers, so that the decision you make moves you toward success and not away from it.
So what are you going to do?
How are you going to define your relationship with change? As the catalyst that moves you forward or the anchor that holds you back? Will you fear it or embrace it.
When you next get into the ring for success – you’ll know the moves, you’ll know your opponent, and you’ll know how to hit the pause button for your “time-out.”
Benefit from the Adapter Factor today
Linda Lynch-Johnson is available for keynote, breakout sessions and spousal programs for your next event.
Let her help you use The Adapter Factor to thrive. She can be reached through her agent, Jennifer Lier at Las Vegas Keynote Speakers by calling 702-706-4037, or by using the button below…
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