Issue 5, February 2007: Big Things Happen

Issue 5 : February 2007

Big Things Happen

I often begin my "Big Things Happen" workshop with the following experiment. I wait until everyone sits and gets comfortable. Then I ask them to pick up their belongings and find another seat at another table. You ought to hear the groans and see the nasty looks I get! But after a few moments of hesitation, most people get up to make the move. I then say, "Stop, you can stay where you are." They all flop back into their seats with a big sigh of relief.

Next, I pose this question: "Many of you were obviously annoyed when I asked you to find another seat. Why was that?" Some people say that they were comfortable and didn't want to move. Others say they can see better where they are. A few people say that they don't like anyone telling them where to sit. They also said that the closer the new seat was to their original, the easier it would be to make the change. However, most agreed that they could change seats if they had to.

I then ask, "If making a little change such as moving to a different seat in the same room causes you discomfort, how would a big change make you feel?" Every one laughs and gets my point: If making small changes is troublesome making a big change may seem impossible.

Most of us desire success in our personal and professional lives, yet we are often unwilling or unable to make the necessary changes to accomplish our goals. The reason is simple. Making big changes in our lives is scary and often too confronting for fear of the unknown. I believe that the secret to achieving your dreams is to take many small, well-planned steps with a specific goal in sight.

Don Gabor

Prima Publishing

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