Almost all of us have been lied to over the years by some thoughtful, well meaning people, who told us that change takes time. It’s been drilled into us by parents, bosses, politicians and teachers to the point that it is accepted as fact. The reality is that it’s not change that takes time, it’s the perceptability of outcomes that takes time. If you just got fired, both the change and the outcome are almost instantly apparent. If instead you are trying to lose 50 pounds, the change is instant, but it may take months or years to see the outcome.
So why do people say change takes time? Aside from the fact that it has been drilled into our brains by those around us, it is the safe answer. It is an excuse to not take action or more often responsibility. You have an out because as we are all told “change takes time”. Those three words give you permission to put the brakes on a project or idea which might alter the status quo. People might not be ready for it, or you might not be ready for it. Luckily we have this society reinforced excuse that we can easily use and everyone accepts it as fact. I challenge you to find an example where change takes time and it’s not just a matter of the outcome taking time. In the words of Yoda “there is no try”.
Proof Positive Change
Need some proof, here’s a quick list of changes which the perception is almost instantaneous:
- Getting married
- Going through divorced
- Being fired
- Getting hired
- Announcing your sexual preference
- Sept 11, 2001
- Becoming a parent
- Getting arrested
- Getting promoted
- Corporate downsizing
- Getting wet
- Skydiving
What We Can Control
All of these items have a dramatic difference in the before and after conditions. Some we have control over, others we don’t. Either way, the change happens almost instantly. So what about some examples of change where perception isn’t as obvious:
- Losing weight
- Changing a business process
- Stop drinking
- Getting out of debt
- Corporate growth
In the first group either there are no obstacles to go from before to after, or there is no way to go back. The second group is more of a continuum and generally has an element of choice. It’s easy to find the Oreos or pour yourself a drink or pull out the plastic and go shopping. Within the realm of things we can control, if we can’t see immediate change, we may find ourselves gravitating back to what we know and are comfortable with. It makes you wonder how history might have been different if Cortez had not burned his ships when he got to the new world. He took a situation where choice could have allowed him and his crew to go back, but he created a situation where he could only go forward.
The next time someone tells you that change takes time, or you find yourself saying it yourself, think about whether choice is a factor and if there is a way back to where you started.
