Change 2.0
Much like the web these days being about back and forth, about connecting rather than showing, I’m working on the concept of Change 2.0. The theory is this: Rather than accepting that change “happens to us”; we recognise instead that change is a back and forth; that we are part of it, to the point that the very act of how we perceive change, effects how it impacts us.
For me this distils down to: “When we change the way we see the world, we change the world”.
We accept that our perceptions go a long way to creating our reality, and eventually, like a ripple in a pond, the way we see the world flows out through our actions and changes the world; one little piece at a time. So, that’s the big picture. Let’s zoom in for a moment and look at how that affects us at the day to day level.
Like most keynote speakers, I have great testimonials from satisfied clients. I get the standing ovations; I get people lining up to take a piece of me home in the form of books and DVD’s after I speak. That’s the business side of what I do.
Then there is the human element; the sharing of stories bought on by the emotions I’ve triggered in people. How events similar to mine in their own lives have affected them. And then there’s the deeply personal; the instances where the people I come into contact with turn the tables and change me. Allow me to share.
I’d just come off stage in New Orleans for a large real estate franchise conference and had probably already signed 50 books when the next person in line; a young Indian guy in his mid twenties, took both my hands and stared intently into my eyes.
“Mr Warren. When I came into the room late this morning, you were already on the stage. From where I was sitting, I could only see you from the waist up so I didn’t see the chair (wheelchair). Then you moved, and I saw the chair, but now, with you right before my eyes, I don’t see the chair anymore”.
I did my best to maintain my composure as I said thank you, but I barely held it together. Writing about it now I still feel the power of his words. One of my biggest fears after losing both legs was that of how people would see me now; how they might pity or feel sorry for me.
This young man had confirmed for me that I had indeed achieved what I’ve long taught: If you want others to see you in a certain light; make sure you see yourself in that light first. I can honestly say I haven’t caught anyone looking at me with pity for a long, long time. Now I know why.
So, what does this all mean for you?
I don’t know, but here is the question I ask myself whenever I hit the wall, or am faced with change that seems insurmountable:
How am I seeing this?
You never know; it may well be that applying a little Change 2.0 theory may be all you need to break free of where you are, to where you want to be.
Over to you.
ps
Please note this article was first published on the Speakers Spotlight Blog at: http://site.speakers.ca/2010/09/change-2-0/
Archived Comments
1 Comment
Majorshadow says:
Song “Stand” a song about facing adversity.
Hear it @ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3MxZcls24o