This Christmas is going to include many firsts for the Mumford family.
After more than 30 years, we’re going to be in a new house in a different side of the country…
We’re going to host my little granddaughter for her very first Christmas…
And, sadly, this will also be the first holiday without my mother who passed away in the summer. Traditionally she was always the one to host Christmas.
I think that in past years, I might have struggled with this level of change. But recently – I guess with age – I’ve become more relaxed about it.
It seems to me now that everything has its time. Of course you want to hold onto what you know and what’s familiar, but it’s only natural that things move on and that people change.
We shouldn’t fight it…
I see many business owners struggling with change, too.
I’m not immune to it. I recall the huge shock years ago, when our operations director, Claire, moved on. At the time I was very worried about the impact of this transition but in hindsight, it was the correct decision for everyone.
Then there’s a client we onboarded, who was incredibly cautious in their approach to absolutely everything. Every decision was stretched out, because they were afraid of making significant modifications to the way they worked.
The truth is, their business ticked along but wasn’t growing significantly. Their aversion to change held them back. It was only when they learned to live with change that they forged ahead.
Why am I bringing this up now? Because 2023 has very much been the year of change.
The economic climate has been bumpy and we’ve had to get used to economic conditions which seem utterly abnormal after a decade of negligible interest rates and inflation.
The correct course of action for most businesses was to adjust to these new conditions – yet many buried their head in the sand, resisting change to their detriment.
2024, too, may bring changes. The economic climate seems to have calmed somewhat, and as I said in my last blog, this will open up opportunities – for those brave enough to look for them, grab them and make the necessary pivots.
I hope you do. Change can be daunting, but as we’ve seen in our own lives and countless businesses, embracing it brings growth and prosperity.
On that note, I wish you a holiday season filled with joy and new beginnings, just like the Mumford family’s celebration of firsts. In the spirit of the season, let’s welcome 2024 with open arms, embracing positive transformations, both personally and professionally.
Happy holiday and a thriving new year!
Warmly,
Garry & the Insight Associates team
