Most of us are creatures of habit. It's easier to continue doing what we've been doing, what is familiar to us, what is comfortable. Although it's easier, that doesn't mean that doing the same thing, with the same people, in the same place, year after year, is a successful approach to business or life, for that matter. Sometimes, it's necessary to make a change, to shake things up. Trying new things, socially, can be a little scary, but it's also exciting. Putting yourself in an entirely different environment can rev up both your social and business lives. For example, joining a business club, organization, or association puts you in touch with a new group of people, some of whom you're bound to like and vice versa. These new people can refer business to you, make social referrals, open you up to a new interest or a new point of view, or might just provide you with intelligent and/or humorous conversation. All of this is good. Even taking a bus to a gym that isn't around the corner from your apartment can give you an opportunity to meet people you haven't met before. I've had some delightful conversations with people I've met while in transit. We're not robots and we shouldn't behave like them. Life can be exhilarating if you're open to adventure. You don't have to jump out of an airplane to have an adventure: you just need to be open to having one and open-minded. The same is true in business. Technology changes so fast that, as a business owner or employee, you have to be on top of the new developments and on top of the new marketing trends if you want to be successful. There is no room for getting comfortable, anymore, in business. Things change as rapidly as you're reading this blog. Don't be afraid of change: learn to enjoy the adventure and/or the new experience. When I created this Web site, I became my own SEO expert. I Googled the information that I needed and ran with it. I'm not saying that my SEO talents are as good as those of an SEO professional, however, my company is on the first page of Google (for personal concierge services in NYC, the ues of Manhattan, and zip code 10065.) It's fun to learn something new and it's good for that grey matter that is known as our brains. Trust me when I tell you that I can be as resistant to change as the next person, however, once I learned that there are very few things, in life, that are irreversible, change came easier to me. Fortunately for me, I learned that at a young age. I'm not suggesting that you get rid of long-term spouses or friends or successful businesses, if you're happy with them. I'm just saying that shaking things up, every now and then, adds zest to your life, is healthy, and can help you grow in ways in which you can't envision until you take the plunge. Go ahead. Jump in! You won't regret it. I rarely do. |