The Importance of Adaptability
Being determined should be commended, so should awareness
Stay the course
How many times have you heard it said?
“Just wait it out, stay committed, and results will follow.”
Commitment is certainly paramount, otherwise, we wouldn’t be successful in life or business. But our desire to “stay the course” shouldn’t blind us from the ever-changing reality.
When creating a business, we come up with goals, timelines and directions. A business plan. Since most of us are not probability mathematicians, we simply cannot forecast all possible scenarios.
Weather happens. This can be important for guided city tours, for example. Not many people like walking in a rainstorm. There are also weather-dependent businesses, like snow clearing — if there’s no snow, there’s no business.
Politics happen. I don’t mean the big picture here, but policy changes that politicians enstate. Tax laws change, regulations get adjusted, etc.
The economy continues to surprise us. Despite all the forecasts by people and machines much smarter than us, we never know what the economy has in store for us.
Covid-19 shows up out of nowhere. When we first heard of a new virus, who knew it would literally stall everything for about two years, and is actually still playing out everywhere?
Geopolitics. Just like the economy, it’s predictable but unpredictable. But the consequences are global.
The need to respond
As a business or an entrepreneur, it’s important to adjust to these changes and be able to do so quickly.
Sometimes that means getting out of one’s comfort zone.
“I took all that time to prepare my business plan, now it’s all gone up in the air!”
Factors change. And the quicker you can adjust, the bigger an opportunity you get in return. You may have planned to go small, but then realize that you can scale and you need to act on it.
Diversify. If a particular winter is without snow, then maybe you can use your truck for towing or rent it out to construction companies.
Are you a city guide? And a thunderstorm is about to hit? Use the opportunity to create a new experience.
You can come up with a quest of the city’s underground. It can be one with the history of the local subway if you’re in New York or Boston. If you’re in Montreal, explore the city’s underground shopping centers and performing arts venues.
Get to know all of your local museums, so that you can offer an alternative to your clients. They’ve already planned to spend a few hours with a guide, so spend the time with them and earn.
Change is inevitable
Changes will take place.
After all, when you start a business, your hope is that it grows, right? Business growth is change. Once the business grows, your responsibilities also begin to adapt. You’ll hire employees, pay different taxes, and you’ll see a different turnover.
There may be more risks with the growth, but they will also bring more opportunities. It’s important to face the changes, analyze them and adapt to them.
To do so, we need to be ready to change ourselves, or at least change our outlook and accept an alternative view.
“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” — Leo Tolstoy
Embrace the changes and they will pay back.
