There are things that come up again and again. Ideas, people, programs, groups, that you revisit time and time again even though you may not even want to.
Then seemingly suddenly, the way you see the person, the thing, the place is totally different.
It’s very clear now: an easy yes or a hard no.
Why is that? Why is this time different?
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We’d like to imagine that there are systems, plans, people and places that never change. If it worked that way before, it will always work this way.
Maybe. But not likely.
Do you eat the same exact foods in the same exact proportion, with the same exact seasoning and at the exact times you did last year? (If the answer is yes, please let me know as I have so many questions I’d love to ask if you’d let me.)
So why do we think our business and our professional (and personal) lives are any different?
Sometimes it is the other person, place or product that’s changed. But usually YOU have changed – even if the other party has as well.
Still we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. If anything, we are always more optimistic than we probably should be. Especially if something we waffled with before is now an easy “yes.”
Why is this time different?
You or they or it has changed sure – but why?
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I have convinced myself numerous times (more than I’d like to admit) over my lifetime that this is the “the time”, “the place” and/or “the solution.”
Because it felt right. I was in a different place. I was ready.
But that wasn’t enough. Anytime (and especially) when I’ve made a 180 degree turn, I need more information to make sure that it’s gonna stick.
It can’t be that simple, “I’ve changed”, of an answer to the why. What is it exactly that has changed? Why is it now the right fit?
Say it out loud to yourself, write it down. Make sure you know whatever it is, down to the seemingly smallest and insignificant thing. Actually the more insignificant and seemingly trivial the better.
Okay, the price has changed. It’s in your range.
Okay, the timing has changed. It works with your schedule.
Okay, you need to replace something. There’s room for it in your life.
But keep going, that’s not the real reason.
The real reason is:
- you are ready to do what it takes
- to see things as they really are
- become a new person, place, time, thing
And stating exactly what that IT is: (what you are seeing, doing and becoming)
- work 2 hours a day to get my paperwork in order
- spend $500 and the 4 hours required getting a consult with a professional to help with “xyz”
- be someone who take this, this “xyz” seriously and makes it a part of her life
At this point, you might have to work harder to convince yourself to do the opposite, to let the idea go. If you can define it, it is likely part of the new evolution of you, your business and your life. If you can’t define it, down to the nitty gritty, it might be worth taking a pause or ten, before jumping in.
There’s no need to get swept away in promises and fantasies of sales pages and results. There are a million different ways to do anything and everything.
You need to know clearly – why this tool, this method, this schedule, this product and why THIS time is different.
That will make all the difference and it will be different. Because you say and know so to the tiniest little detail.
