A change of wind. The Australasian Sketcher February 11, 1882 by Alfred May & Alfred Martin Ebsworth, via State Library Victoria
As it turns out June 2023 sucked. It sucked so much I’m not even going to write about it, and just let its memory slip into oblivion.
I’m going to talk about change instead.
Because change is hard, but necessary.
Pivoting
When I was at Primary School we used to play a competitive team game called “rounders.” You formed a line, and when the teacher blew the whistle, you ran up to and around a flag placed some distance away, and then back to your team. The next child immediately did the same, and each subsequent child until you’d all run the gamut. Clearly the first team to finish was the winner.
I was small(er) at the time, so on the one hand I couldn’t run as fast as the bigger kids, but was closer to the ground, so didn’t fall over on my way round the flag as often as they did.
Sadly not as small or quick as an adult, which is why it takes me so long to get across a road these days.
But the point is, you have to be ready to change when you need to (like in June).
To know when it’s time to cut your losses and move on.
Rather than doing the same thing hoping for different results (like May).
Nimbleness
When it’s time to change, there’s no point hanging around.
Jack be nimble
Jack be quick
Jack jump over
The candlestick
Anon (English nursery rhyme)
Jumping over the candlestick was another kind of “sport.”
Half bargain (with whatever was listening)/fortune telling, half competition to jump without blowing the candle out. If you succeeded, “it” would be well, and if not, then not so much.
And the same goes for pivoting.
Just as a quick game’s a good game (or jump), so too a quick pivot is a good one.
Agility
That’s not to say you just shoot off in another direction to see what works.
You still need to think about what’s not working, and why before you move onto where you need to go instead.
There’s always an element of risk when you pivot, so it’s best to change to something you think is going to be better.
To look for the exits, so to speak.
The situation you are in provides clues to what’s better, even if some of them are quiet murmurs that something is just not right.
Though if you’ve run into the same brick wall a hundred times they’ll be loud metaphorical shouts.
As they say, better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Especially (to mix metaphors) when it’s time to escape a burning building.
Change
Ideally, change is your choice.
Though not changing to adapting circumstances is also a choice.
And when you wait until your feet are in the fire, the outcome is not just burned feet, but you’ll have to crawl to catch up.
Okay, that’s a messy metaphor, but sometimes change does feel like torture.
Like Windows 3.1 to Windows 95. Or Windows 10 to Windows 11.
Or the inexorable rise of popups. Including one in the latest Windows that says I should sign in to make it easier for me to ask my parents for addiditional access…
(Should I tell them my parents are not computer literate because they’re DEAD? Might be fun, but probably not.)
As I said, way back then, embrace change. It’s easier when you’re an early adapter.
Mind you, I also suggested keeping your house and garden neat and clean (not doing so good on that one), and developing and maintaining peak condition (which I am doing better at).
Changing
I’ve been busy learning about speeding up websites, automating and systematising my business procecsses, and market for fun and profit.
Navigating the line between truth and excessive affilliate payments.
I waited too long to make the changes, and it’s cost me $$$.
Changed
But now I’ve changed webhosts and updated my site themes.
Made some changes in the back and front offices of my business.
Put some others in place on the personal front (don’t worry, DB and Clever Girl survived).
So here’s a challenge for you to think about change.
What are you living with, that you know you need to change?
What is the smallest thing you can change for the better?
What will your life look like once you’ve made that change?
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