Don’t just Play the Game…Change the Game.

The world has rarely been so willing to embrace change.

The playing field has been leveled by technology, society has embraced disruption, and our minds are infected by the drive to be different. One of the noblest ideals is to create something bigger than ourselves in this life – this is now possible like never before.

It all starts with an open mind and a furrowed brow.

Infectious change rarely happens by accident. True change is not an evolution of our reality - it “jumps the track” to become something entirely different. Making this happen for yourself and those around you requires an immense amount of imagination, dedication, and perseverance. Few people will share your vision, but those who do will follow you to the end. Changing the game is about passion and action, not lip service.

In the past, people have never been short of ideas, but the infrastructure for making change stick simply hasn’t been there. Now, with huge leaps in technology and the ability to tap into a global knowledge base, virtually anyone is empowered to make change their reality. Someone has a brilliant idea, they higher or partner with a technology consultant to build a website or an app, and people have the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives. The more examples we see, the readier people are to do it for themselves.

Every attempt at change, successful or not, can make the world a better place.

It is not only in the sphere of business that change is taking root. Ideas that have been debated around dinner tables for years are finally entering the public consciousness.

Change tends to blur lines, but who needs to live within the same lines anyway?

Every change needs a catalyst. Social media has provided the mouthpiece, but it remains the choice of the individual whether they choose to speak out in support of their cause. Every “like” on every post has played its small part to persuade everyone else that actually, yes, why not, of course, this is acceptable. When you are changing the game, you can’t do it on your own – you need supporters, and our modern “social” world makes it possible to tap into that groundswell of feeling.

One individual can change the game by making a huge statement and getting everyone else to follow, but there can equally be thousands of people whispering something quietly to have a similar effect.

Having said this, even the smallest change requires courage. The most basic step of clicking on a controversial post might open you up to ridicule from others. Be strong, back your beliefs and change can happen.

The change makers of this world have a plan. If we are to take change seriously, we have to dedicate a portion of our lives to it. Our lives are consumed by business, family and personal issues – we have to allow “change” to take its place in the pecking order. Otherwise, it will never happen. For me, writing down my thoughts is a great way of making them more real. It gives change a foundation upon which it can grow. If change is not brought to life in some concrete way, then the status quo will retain its hold on us.

When we are contemplating change, we have to factor risk into the equation. We shouldn’t be hampered by the possibility of failure, but we need to be mindful of the obstacles that will come our way. Some of those obstacles will stop us in our tracks for a while, but, there is nearly always a way around, over or through. Perseverance makes all the difference when the road is bumpy.

People talk about change being a habit, but I see it slightly differently. I view change as a process of planting seeds that have the potential to alter the trajectory of our lives. We can’t do this all the time, and we should only choose to plant those seeds that can make the biggest difference. Spending energy on fruitless pursuits is always a risk when you have a change mentality – you can’t always be certain of a positive result, but you should analyse whether you are going to be truly dedicated to making the change happen. Once the seeds have been planted, ensuring that they flourish is the commitment you have taken on.

Lastly, when you have changed the game, it all too quickly becomes the game. Disrupting what has previously been disrupted is the basic rule of Darwinian evolution.

If we stand still, the world will pass us by.

This is not what I wish to happen in my life. How about you?