Business Dreams Consulting

Transformation Versus Change

"It's important to note that there is a difference between change and transformation. Where change is temporary; transformation is a significant and lasting change. It is change that doesn't allow you to go back to where you were before. We want to transform - not change." Shawn Phillips from Strength for Life

 

I think that is one of the most important statements that I have ever read.  I don't want change; I want transformation!  I want things to be different ... permanently.  Note that I really don't think there is anything wrong with my life - I just want permanent change in some areas of my life.  Perhaps it is the same for you.  You might want to transform something about your life or your business.  Using the word transform is significant for many reasons - here are two of them. 

 

First, if I say I want to change - my brain registers that as something I can do quite quickly.  After all - I use that word a lot.  I am going to change my clothes.  I am going to change the sheets.  I am going to change the toner in the printer.  Change - that's something quick ... right?  And I contrast that with how seldom I use the word transform.  I can't really think of when I would use that word.  Which is why I react to it differently, and on that deep down level - I know that transformation will take time.  And that is extremely important.  Because to be honest - almost anything that we want to do is going to take time.  If it were something quick - you would already have done it! 

 

Using the word transformation feels different.  Change is a day trip.  Transformation - that's a journey.  I am going to transform my health.  I am going to transform my finances.  I am going to transform my career.  I am going to transform my business.  Wow - none of those things will happen overnight - I need to be prepared for a journey if I want to do any of those. 

 

Knowing that transformation is a journey forces me to accept the need for focus.  And that's one of the other significant reasons that I like the word transformation - it implies the need for focus.  Focus is essential if you are going to create transformation.  That seems self-evident when I use the word transformation; doesn't it?  Does that word feel different to you?  Does it imply the need for sustained action (the need to maintain a focus)?   If I am going to transform my health; then I need to maintain a focus on changing my diet.  And maintain a focus on exercise.  Until my health is transformed and I have lasting new behaviours that support me; I need to focus.  If I am going to transform my finances - I need to analyze every aspect of my financial life and then make choices to live differently daily. 

 

Whatever you want to transform - your health, your wealth, your happiness, your business, your relationship ... you will need to focus on taking the daily actions that will take you towards that transformation.  You will need to look at every aspect of your health/wealth/happiness/relationship/business and see what you can do differently.  And then do it, do it, do it.  Just do it but not just once ... daily!

 

And that's the final thought - transformation implies the need to live differently daily (to take action daily) and to constantly evaluate how you can do that!  

The Brilliance of Philosophers Notes

If you are at all interested in changing your life; you are probably aware that there are hundreds if not thousands of books on every conceivable aspect of doing just that. You've probably heard great things about books such as Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Jack Canfield's The Success Principles, or Shawn Phillips Strengths For Life to mention a few.  But like most people, you just don't have the time to read 100 books, or don't have the money.  And you probably also know that while many of these books contain similar messages; not every book will resonate with you.  So what do you do? 

Luckily for us - there is a solution.  The brilliant Brian Johnson has created Philosophers Notes which are the "Coles Notes" (Cliff Notes for Americans) of self-development books.  For $47 US you get 100 great books in pdf (and mp3) form.  Each Philosophers Note is a six page pdf summary of the "Big Ideas" from books such as the ones I named above.  Even better, if you don't want to spend the $47, Brian is now creating 10 minute video summaries which are yours to view for free!   Philosophers Notes TV!

The videos are part of the "50 Books in 50 Days Challenge".  The participants (including me) are reading one of the Notes each weekday, and watching Brian's video about the book.  This is probably one of the best uses of half an hour that I have ever come across.  I read the note, watch the video, and do the exercises in the Note (if any) or simply write down what I want to take away.  And it is something that I intend to keep on doing.  Half an hour a day is my new minimum commitment to self development information.  It is amazing to see how the layering of new information and new messages is helping me change rapidly.  I absolutely love it. 

Give it a try - 10 minutes to watch a video ... how do you lose???  As Brian says "More Wisdom in Less Time".