Today, you awaken to a day in which you have the power to make and inspire change.– Steve Marboli
We are hosting a mini-family reunion in a couple of weeks. We are also in the middle of an overdue remodeling our upstairs bathroom. There’s just no easy way to get from here to there when it comes to such a project.
Photo Credit: Karen Horton via Compfight
This project – like so much of life – is about making change.
Now, my not-so-favorite part of this story involves an electrical task.
It’s simple, right … like change? Remove the old bathroom light/ventilator/heater unit; replace it with a light/ventilator unit and add a new light over the shower. The sheet rock is ripped out; how hard can this be?
Change, it’s not Hard, it’s just not Easy
After several hours I realized day dreaming about this simple project was not going to change reality. I had wasted several hours working on it, Larry and I wasted some more time and we did not experience the thrill of victory; only the agony of defeat.
Truth, shining ever so brightly, revealed the obvious: it’s time to call an expert. (Note: if you live in Tulsa and ever need an electrician, David with Covenant Electric is high on my referral list.)
The next morning, David walks-in, looks at the situation – the mess – and reports he will return in a couple of hours to take care of it. Sure enough, right after lunch, he walks in and makes the changes … he makes it look easy. I was quite happy to write him a check, but disappointed thinking about the wasted time. What was I thinking when I took it on myself?
The Five D’s of Making Change Happen
From this simple story, I thought of what helps us make change. The presupposition is that the need for change is recognized.
- Dream – what does “it” look like once the change is completed? What does the new reality look like? What are the benefits sought? How do I want my life to be different?
- Desire – to pursue substantial change, you really have to want it. A wish won’t move you past day-dreaming; much less help you get it done!
- Deadline – to make change happen, set a date to get started. If it is a project, decide when it will be completed; if a behavior change, when will you practice the new approach?
- Determination – you want change; now, as you begin, understand resistance will meet you and making the change will take tenacity.
- Delegate – experts are people with strengths you don’t have and who love what you don’t enjoy; let them in, let it go … find the support you need to get there.
Here’s to Your Future Success
As you’ve often heard me say, the best predictor of future success is the willingness and ability to learn and change, achieved through consistent reflection on truth found in the story.
The truth is, I will call an electrician first next time I need a change in wiring around our house. That ensures the success of our next remodeling project.
What change do you need to make?
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