Change-ism

How do I change - without changing? A question that I encounter on a daily basis, both professionally and personally. However, the question is rarely posed in such a clear and direct manner.  People usually back into it without realizing - usually when replying to an innovative solution to a pesky old problem.

Personally, I want to be thinner than I am - and have visited that desired area of the scale several times in my life. For years I wanted to blame my thyroid (nope, normal) and my big bones (nope, normal size bones) and my personality (nope, introverts are not inherently big or small).  Basically, I want to change, without changing. Once I realized that, the path forward cleared right up. I like the idea of being thinner, but turns out, I don't actually want to be thinner, because I am not taking the actions to be thinner. 

Professionally, I serve by bringing innovative solutions to new and existing businesses.  I don't go smashing through their doors, demanding my way or the highway. I am invited in, asked for my expertise and collaborate on a new way to solve an old problem.  Here is how it often goes down:

Said Business: How can we streamline our communication process? 
Me: How about this innovative process, that innovative process, and the other innovative process.
Said Business: Oh. But that's not how we do things around here. 
Me: Yep, I know. Innovation is a new method or idea.
Said Business: I know. But I wanted you to tell me how to change without changing.
Me: Yep, I know.

Some businesses promise this nonsense to their customers.  I know because I have bought into their marvelous marketing messages - lose weight in 90 days.  But what happens on the 91st day? I know, chocolate chips happen! We all have to walk down the idea-of-change path before we can commit to the reality-of-change path.  I have people in my life who met me at that very fork in the road, when the idea of my life changing met the reality of my life changing.  That is where I serve best, constructing the bridge from innovative idea to innovation reality. Our collective problems are not lacking ideas to solve them.  Our collective problems are lacking a plan of action to implement those ideas into lasting change.  

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