There's an
awesome book out called WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? by Spencer Johnson.
It's about lab mice who live in a maze. Everyday they take the
same path to get to the cheese. One day the cheese is moved. One
mouse is prepared to deal with this change of events. Another
continues along the same path as always, unable to accept that
the cheese is no longer in its same spot.
The one thing
we can count on in our lives is that things will change. Your
ability to deal with change is critical. Corporate America spends
millions (if not billions) of dollars a year training employees
to adapt to new situations. Those who can't, get left behind,
or, as Spencer Johnson might say, run out of cheese.
Here are a
few tips to prepare yourself for change:
1. Don't rely
too heavily on your current circumstances.
2. Don't make
long term commitments you can't handle.
3. Save your
money for a "rainy day."
4. Brainstorm
"what-if's," and then develop back up plans. A good
plan "B" will make you feel more secure about plan "A."
5. Embrace
change. There's a fine line between stability to stasis. Sometimes
we need change to set us free of limitations.
6. Network
like crazy. Cultivate and maintain relationships. You may need
them down the line.
7. Believe
you'll land on your feet. No matter what happens, you're going
to be OK. Have faith in yourself.
For tips on
how to set yourself up for success, check out the Jump
Start Leadership Workbooks or The
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.
To read more
motivation, check the Chicken
Soup for the Soul series.