August 2024
Bridging the Gap:
Embracing Change
with Kat Vasquez
Hello, industry trailblazers! This month, we’re zeroing in on the transformative power of change. The AI tsunami is upon us, and it’s only going to intensify. Much like life post-Covid, this is just the beginning. Today’s AI is the most rudimentary it will ever be. With this in mind, how do we prepare for this seemingly invisible disruption? The first step is acceptance and embracing this change. Before we dive into the exponential technologies brewing beneath our everyday lives, we must shift with a growth mindset.
Let’s begin with the story of “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. In this timeless parable, two mice and two little people discover their cheese supply has vanished. While the mice quickly adapt and search for new cheese, the little people resist change, clinging to the hope that the old cheese will miraculously reappear. We’re reminded here that adaptability isn’t just a skill, it’s a necessity for survival.
When faced with new challenges or opportunities, some embrace change as a chance for growth and innovation. Others, like the little people, become paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. The excuses are endless: “It won’t work here,” “We don’t have the
resources,” or “It’s too much trouble.” These are the antibodies of organizational change, working tirelessly to preserve the status quo.
The “Typical Immune System Responses: 50 Reasons Not to Change” list are emblematic of the internal and external dialogues that can impede progress. This list, credited to Riaz Shah, represents the common objections and excuses that stifle change and maintain the status quo. Overcoming this resistance
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requires courage, adaptability, and a
willingness to step outside of our comfort zones. Just as the mice in the story found new and abundant cheese, organizations that embrace change can unlock new possibilities and achieve greater success.
Transformation is not instantaneous; it’s a progressive path marked by small, consistent steps that gradually build up to substantial change. Let’s begin by bridging the gap between ourselves and change. Start now by embracing AI as your daily thought partner. Post the list of “Typical Immune System Responses: 50 Reasons Not to Change” on the wall for you and your team to see daily. Leverage technology by creating dashboards not with just transactional data, but with relationship metrics that make your customer at the forefront. Now is the time to harness our unique human qualities—empathy, creativity, and collaboration—more than ever before and superpower the rest with AI.
So, as we look ahead, let’s embrace change with open arms. A Chinese proverb states, “A crisis is an opportunity riding a dangerous wind.” We have the chance to embrace this opportunity and steer toward a future filled with growth, transformation and, ultimately longevity. Up next, our world from a Futuremaker’s perspective.
Kat Vasquez, Contributing Writer