Change

It’s time to head back to school. As I watch kids climb onto the busses and see college students stock up on back to school supplies, I think about how things change. Not to get all philosophical, but let’s face it, whether the change for students going back to school, in climate from season to season, in technology or business methodology, or any number of things – one fact you can count on is that change is a constant.



There are many quotes on the topic. “The only people who like change are babies with dirty diapers – and note even them all the time.” (As a mother who had three little ones in diapers at the same time I can see the humor in that). I also like the famous, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result”…moral of the story, get with change.


Successful businesses must embrace change to keep moving forward. That’s why it continues to surprise me to engage with companies that are resistant to exploring new options for their business. The bigger surprise is those who have a compelling reason to make a change and aren’t able/willing/ready to take the leap.


When was the last time you evaluated your insurance needs and looked at your policy then shopped around to see how you could get a better rate, more coverage etc.? Most of us don’t do it without a nudge or suggestion from someone who knows the insurance industry and can make recommendations for us. If we did explore options and found significant savings or added value – would we go through the hassle of signing new paperwork and the necessary actions for a new policy? Probably only if we really trusted the person who was helping us and believed that change was best for the long term.


The same holds true for dial tone, internet, and business technology. When was the last time you looked at your phone bill – really looked at your phone bill and started to question the fees and rates? When was the last time that you asked for help to better understand if there was a better option? Are you ready to do that? Or the better question to ask is – what will you do with the information you learn? Are you in the mindset that “things are working just fine – why rock the boat?” or afraid to make changes? I ask this because I continue to see scenarios where there is a clear ROI or long term business benefit for changing service or product but the prospect is not comfortable making a change.


Thinking about change? Here is what I think…price is one thing, but it is important to evaluate total COST of the change. Ask for help:


1. Do you know who to call to facilitate an analysis?


2. Do you know who to trust to implement a solution?


3. Are you in the mindset to make a change or are you thinking, “it’s working and even though I’m paying more we’re afraid to make changes.”


Most importantly – once you’ve done your homework and are ready to make a change, work with a trusted source to ensure you’ve considered total cost, transition time, and ongoing support.

This was one of Amy Hershman's conversations with Bill Taylor.