Seth Godin loves to share the story of how years ago Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Air, found himself in an airport in the Caribbean. They had just cancelled his flight. Instead of freaking out about his day being ruined, he walked to the charter desk and asked about the cost of chartering a flight. He borrowed a chalkboard and wrote, “Seats to Virgin Islands, $39.”
In a few minutes, Branson had sold enough seats to cover his costs and he made it home in time. The experience also planted the seeds for the airline he would later start.
Branson wasn’t afraid of change. Anyone else would have called a cab and booked a hotel room. Anyone else would have tried again tomorrow. We need more church leaders who are willing to embrace change when the status quo is no longer good enough. Here are 10 truths about change:
- Slow change is rarely positive change.
- If everyone already recognizes the need for change, you’re obviously not the leader.
- When it comes to change, leaders go first.
- Organizations that don’t change die.
- If a change seems easy, you’re probably not changing enough.
- When you think you’ve communicated enough about a change, communicate more.
- It’s very difficult to change a change that previously worked.
- Someone will despise the change and let you know about it.
- Change, even the best kind, will generate some fear, anger and sadness.
- Change without metrics is foolish.
According to Seth, we can choose whether or not to live in a decade of frustration or a decade of change.