Change Is Not Easy

Jan 06, 2016

Over the weekend, I helped some friends move. With three young children and two adults, you can imagine the amount of “stuff” to be packed! During our time together, my friend commented, “now I know why I hate change so much, it is so much work!” Being the eternal optimist, I thought to myself: yes, but its worth it. For them, it is worth it. They moved into nice neighborhood, into a home they could call their own. One that did not require renovations like their current rental property.

I wonder how many times you have avoided change in fear of the amount of work it may involve. Revising your reporting from the shop floor, organizing the tool bin, improving communication, updating or creating your cost system, etc. All of these tasks involve a great deal of time and effort. So, what happens if you fail to make an effort to change? In the case of my friends, the rental home they occupied had major structural issues, which could have proven extremely costly and dangerous. What if they would have decided to remain? Their landlord had decided not to repair the issues. As a result, they would have spent their own money renovating, or worse, the house would have been proven unlivable. What a horrific thought!

However, can be also be said in business as well. Without making necessary improvements, can’t your business caving in on itself? Is it not just a matter of time before it’s too late and the damage cannot be undone? Not accepting change and making improvements can result in key employees departing, the loss of customers due to poor quality and lack of service, and a deficit of quotes. The downward spiral of a firm unwilling to change or make improvements is deadly.

If you are able to remain positive and push through the difficulty of change, you will improve employee morale, enhance customer relationships, and positively impact your business as a while. The ability to expand your business, predict your costs, and remain flexible in your quoting are all vital to remaining competitive in today’s market.

Use this new year as a motivation to start fresh. Go back to the drawing board and review your business foundation. Making small improvements can have a huge impact on the future of your business. If you don’t feel you can undertake such a task, you do not have to do it alone. Contact me!

Categories: Cost Accounting