Two Forces of Change that Matter to Your Business

Heart of Business is making some exciting new changes! More on that to come later in the article.

It’s true – change is constant. It’s also necessary.

When water doesn’t move and flow, it gets stagnant. Humans who lose the use of their limbs – their muscles atrophy. Ever walked into a room where the air hasn’t circulated in a long time – even the air get’s unpleasant unless it’s graced with change.

Business is the same way. Things change. People change. Technologies change. Our relationship with all of it changes. We are living things, as are our businesses. We require change to be healthy.

Why then is change so hard?

There are many reasons, but I want to talk about two of them today, along with some support to help you work with change.

One: Comfort

We live in a paradox of being programmed to seek comfort and pleasure. We naturally gravitate away from pain.  Change is usually pretty freakin’ hard, sometimes, it even feels painful.  Change requires us to get uncomfortable, to face unpleasant things and stretch ourselves in new ways.

This natural orientation towards comfort can keep us stuck in business.  We like what we like, we do what we do, and we don’t want to do what we don’t want to do.

I imagine there are some important things in your business which are not actually “hard” or “difficult” tasks to accomplish, but you may be resisting them because they make you uncomfortable.

Jot down two or three of them now.

The question to ask for each: “How willing am I to get uncomfortable now, in the short term, so that I can move forward, grow and blossom in the long term?”

Are you willing to get a little (or a lot) uncomfortable, making the adjustments needed for your business to grow?

So, the key to working with discomfort is being with your heart in the discomfort.  Surprisingly, being uncomfortable isn’t that bad – it’s just uncomfortable.  What if being uncomfortable was okay?

Two: The Unknown

Another reason change can feel so difficult is because it brings us face-to-face with the unknown.

“Will this work?”  “What if it fails?” “Am I really qualified?”  “What’s the best way to go about this task?”  And the list goes on.

Oddly enough, facing the unknown also makes us uncomfortable, so it can be a swift cycle between the two.

However, the only way we actually know something is to experience it.  The only way to experience something is to take action.

“Will this work?” – you never know until you take action and it works (or doesn’t).

“What if it fails?” – you will never know until you take action and fail (or succeed).

“What’s the best way to accomplish this task?” – you will never know until you take action and accomplish it (or try).

The thing that often traps folks in taking action is that there’s is a belief that you have to take massive action.  This is not true.  You don’t have to complete something to get an early indication about whether it will work or not.  You only need to take a small step in that direction (take action), check in, observe the feedback, make adjustments and then take another step (more action).

So, the key when facing the unknown is to consistently take action in reasonable steps.

Using the two or three things you listed in the section above, what are some reasonable steps you’re willing to take in order to face the unknown?  What if you could break up the task you’re looking at into tiny, micro-steps and just take one of them.  What if you didn’t have to finish – you only had to start?

The Changes Afoot at Heart of Business

Heart of Business has been working with both of these two elements – there has been a fair share of discomfort, which we’ve been supporting each other through, along with lots of unknown – and we’ve been taking many small steps along the way so we have an idea of some bigger changes we’re feeling ready (and called) to make soon.

Since Mark is mostly out of town the early part of this week, I wanted to give you the highlights of what’s coming, and he’ll be sharing more detail with you in the coming weeks.

Personally, I’m super excited for these changes.  I’ve been anxious for us to get some of this implemented for some time, and finally, for a variety of reasons, we’re ready, and the time for change is now (or soon).

There are three key changes coming:

1. The Heart of Business Community: Stronger compassionate accountability structures so that you can be sure you’re carrying your business forward in a clear, step-by-step fashion, along with spiritual nourishment so you stay clear, confident and inspired.  Sounds yummy, doesn’t it?
2. Website refresh.  OMG – right?!?!?!?  (This one makes me giddy like a schoolboy.)  An updated look and feel, following the guidance we offer above, using a reasonable-step-at-a-time approach.
3. For the first time, we’re going to raise our price on one of our key programs: Foundations1: Clients & Money.  Don’t worry, it will still be really accessible for people new in business, and we’re keeping the amazing support, our commitment to answering every question and our personal touch – along with it being a bit more sustainable for us to deliver.  Win/win.  (This won’t happen tomorrow – we’ll give you generous notice so you’re not surprised by it.  And, if you’re wanting to jump into Clients & Money, this month or next month would very likely be a good time.  But don’t jump in because you’re startled – sit with it – and we’ll get more info to you soon. Fair enough?)

We don’t know the exact timing on these three changes yet – but all three of them are high on our list of priorities, so we’re hoping to nail down more specifics on timing very soon.

You can be sure we’ll keep you in the loop on things as we move forward.  It’s really quite exciting, and we feel confident that you’ll genuinely appreciate what’s coming and why we are making these changes.

Change can be challenging.  Change is constant.  Change is life.

I shared some of our changes, and I’d love to hear about the two or three things you want to change in your business.  How are you working with the discomfort and unknown?  Please share a comment below!

With deep appreciation and love,

Steve Mattus – Director of Education & Community