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managing change—July 2009

by Jennifer Conaway, CTACC, CCP | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles

Managing Change- Do transitions end?

How do you know when your transition is over? Is a transition ever over?
I believe transitions end. A move across country has certain tasks associated with it, such as moving furniture, setting up utilities, closing the old home, individuals require some adjustment time and then, it’s over. While other transitions are not so easily tracked or closed there is a progression.

For instance, that new business you opened- what if it doesn’t go just exactly as you had hoped? As your ideas grow and change you may end up traveling different paths. Does that mean the initial transition- to open your own successful business- never ends? Does it end when the business, whatever form it has now taken, becomes successful? Has your idea of success changed?

I’ve been working through some of these questions with a client. They are worth asking- and answering. If I look back at my experience leaving the corporate world and opening my own company there were two transitions in the first two years. I didn’t realize or acknowledge this immediately but I now realize the importance of them.

The first transition closed when I completely embraced the idea of working for myself. That may sound a bit odd- but there is a different mindset when you are in the corporate environment than when you work for yourself- you are an entrepreneur. You may not fully realize or embrace the idea of ‘entrepreneur’ right away. At some point on the journey, you move in to that space. When I fully identified with my role as entrepreneur, I felt that I had completed my first transition. I was now totally committed, no thoughts of going back to the corporate environment entered my mind.

The 2nd transition involved growing my business to fit the label of success. I had to define success my way, not based on what the books or other people in the same business said was success. When I hit my success point I considered that transition closed. That doesn’t mean I stopped growing my business, it simply means I reached a milestone.

Much of your journey will be a journey of learning. Learning what works for you, tweaking those things as you grow, learning that support comes in forms you may never have considered before, discovering the depths of your passion, commitment and strength- your list is endless.

There is nothing I have written about over the last year that didn’t occur to many of you, at least once. The difference is taking those ideas and acting on them. Sometimes that takes an extra push- maybe that push is reading an article I wrote, maybe it is a conversation with an associate- whatever that push may be embrace it.

Those ideas that you ‘think’ might help you get through the next few days or weeks or months of a transition are probably pretty good ideas. Don’t disregard them because they are yours. No one knows you like you do and no one will look out for you like you will.

Trust your intuition, if it is telling you to make more contacts find some way to meet people. Your intuition may be telling you to stay home and spend some time with the family- trust that feeling. Acknowledge what you are feeling in your gut, in your heart and hearing in your head. The combination of the three will help you move through any transition- any day.

Every transition is personal.  What works for me may not work for you. You may find actions and experiences that work great for you would only slow me down. It’s important to remember that we are all individuals. Try different things, some of them won’t work phenomenally for you others will bring results you never dreamed of; expect to learn something from each experience. Identify what you learned and store the information for future use.

One aspect many of us forget to focus on is fun. Enjoy the transition. Find some way to have some fun. It’s ok to admit you really like writing those press releases! Own it, love it, and tell the world! It’s ok to admit you have a great time crunching all of the numbers. Maybe you enjoyed searching for the perfect office space.  Whatever it is – find something to enjoy.

Even in, what feels like, your darkest day you can find happiness. During my divorce there were strangers who were kind and caring. They were trying to provide some comfort - I was determined not to see or accept their attempts. Had I opened up to the possibility of some happiness in that time I would have been better served. I encourage you to look for the things that make you happy in any time and to accept the loving attempts of others.

Back to the original question- do transitions end? I believe they do. You owe it to yourself to move forward, through any transition. Embrace the journey and acknowledge the conclusion. Have a party, take a moment of silence- celebrate in whatever way feels good to you.

by Jennifer Conaway, CTACC, CCP | Email me if you questions or comments | Back to List of Articles