Change is Inevitable, Here is How to Maximize It

I knew the day was coming and I prepared as best as I could for it, but I still had work through it.  I'm talking about my final days in one of my longest held businesses.  Last year, my business partner and I sold the business.  For many years, we kind of operated like co-CEO's, a yin and yang of sorts.  But, once the business was bought, I knew that the new owners would only need one of us and my business partner was the founder.  We had planned for me to exit at some point over the year following the sale or move to another role and after a lot of discussion and a some soul searching, it was the right move for me to focus on my other ventures, like the Misfit Entrepreneur Podcast and my investing education business,
12 Minute Trading. 

Of course, I did well on the sale of the business and the new owners took great care of us, but leaving after 15+ years is still hard.  Change always is.  I love the people there and will continue to keep the great relationships I've had for many years - but it's time to move on.  

I've gone through a lot of changes over the years and while this one was more of a planned change, I still have to navigate it and get used to not "being so busy."  It's weird for me not to have all the meetings and appointments I'd typically have on my calendar each week.  Here is what I've learned about change over the years.

Change = Opportunity 

Every big change I've had in my life has resulted in tremendous opportunity - whether it was leaving a well-paid job years ago to take a chance on a little tech company with barely a salary or to start and commit to a weekly podcast, or selling a business.  Every time, I found great opportunity in those changes.  But, here is the thing - you have to make it happen.  Opportunities are all around us and when you open your eyes for them, you will see them.  But, most importantly, you have to action them and see them through.  It took a lot of hard work, long nights and weekends - and finding the right people along the way, to build our company and get it into a position where it was high value for sale.   Find the opportunity and then go at it with everything you've got.

Don't Dwell on It

Change it inevitable.  Many times it comes for good reasons, but sometimes if happens for bad.  Don't dwell on it.  Like one of our Misfit Entrepreneurs, Harma Hartouni says, "5 Minute Funeral."  Give it your 5 mins of emotion and then move on.  In the end, you can only focus on what you can control and to let a change - especially a negative one - affect you, does no good.  Instead pour all that energy and focus into the next chapter for yourself or your business.

Things Happen for a Reason 

I truly believe things happen for a reason.  This has been proven to me over many years.  Each time change happens, it leads to something bigger and better.  You may not know what it is immediately, but you will find it.  For example, I now have more time to focus on the Misfit Entrepreneur and my investing, which are absolute passions for me.  That time will help me to be more available to my students at 12 Minute Trading, give me more time in my own investing, and allow me to better grow the Misfit Entrepreneur so more people around the world can benefit from our message.  I'm pretty excited about it.  

Planning is Critical

As you navigate change, you will need to plan for what comes next.  Whatever it is, sit down and go through everything in your mind.  Get it out of your head and on paper.  Then organize it and determine what you need to do and plan for it.  You have heard before that if your fail to plan, you plan to fail.  Planning will help you take inventory, find clarity and determine your direction.  It won't be perfect.  No plan ever is,  but it will help you tremendously.  

Your Attitude Makes All the Difference

Lastly, as you navigate change, your attitude is very important.  If it is poor, it will shut your mind down and you will miss the new opportunities in front of you.  If you keep a healthy attitude and perspective, it will help you succeed.  And by healthy, I mean not just a positive one, but a logical, realistic one.   No matter what, you will have to do the work needed to maximize the opportunity in change, so you must have a positive, but sober attitude of what you need to do.  And the best part is that, every day, you get to choose your attitude.  So, choose a great one and then go out and make things happen for yourself!