Choosing Greatness: an Evidence-Based Approach to Achieving Exceptional Outcomes: An Evidence-Based Approach to Achieving Exceptional Outcomes by Christina Curtis

Author:Christina Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Forefront Books
Published: 2023-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7 NAVIGATING THE RAPIDS OF CHANGE

Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know.

That can be your greatest strength and ensure

that you do things differently from everyone else.

—SARA BLAKELY, FOUNDER AND CEO OF SPANX

“GROWING UP, we had a two-bedroom house for five of us,” shared Teena Piccione, Global Transformation and Operations executive at Google. “When you do the math, it doesn’t work out! I grew up without a penny to my name. But it really has shown me that we have the power to change whatever path we think we’re on.”

Teena is no stranger to change. Her life story took her from that two-bedroom home to working with Steve Jobs, consulting at the White House, and leading transformation at one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world, Google. What fuels her fire?

“There are 86,400 seconds available to you every day,” shared Teena. “That’s it. We are all given the same amount of time, not a second more. How I utilize those seconds to the best of my abilities will create the legacy I live with. I even put that number on all my kids’ things because I want them to be intentional around what they choose to do with that time.”

Growth requires constant change and adaptation. While this can be exciting and is of critical importance, it is also pretty darn hard. The brain is wired to seek out patterns and predictability and can process uncertainty in the same way it does an error.1 That’s why change can make us feel so anxious and worried, with thoughts ricocheting around, jumping from one risk to the next. One fascinating (albeit ethically questionable) study found that participants who were hooked up to electrodes and told with certainty they would receive an electric shock were less stressed than those in the experiment who were told that the electric shocks might happen.2 Even if predictability isn’t pleasant, it somehow feels safer and a little more secure.

To make the most of our time on this planet, we can’t let the brain’s fear of change derail us. After all, everything is constantly shifting, and if we don’t shift with it, our work can quickly become obsolete. Identify where in your life you want to see change and embrace it, holding that discomfort along with curiosity and conviction. Perhaps you are struggling with work, seeking a career change, frustrated with a project, feeling burned out, or wanting more wealth for the energy you are investing. To change the status quo, choose to adapt your approach and get ready for an exhilarating ride!

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