Flex Your Muscles

I grew up in a small town. Zero need for buses, huge need for a personal car. And those who did need to take a bus from neighboring city to neighboring city—not exactly a life goal, in our small little minds.

Fast forward a few decades, I am grateful for public transit. Why would you not tram it around a national park so you can gawk at the scenery? And big cities? No brainer. If you manage to reach your destination without incident, good luck finding parking. 

Again you might be thinking, “Isn’t this a change management blog? Get to the change management part already!”

Riding the bus back from the market the other day, since I wasn’t driving, I sat pondering. First, at how amazing the last couple months in California have been. The sights, the smells, the people, the food. Oh my gosh, the incredible food. Even the supermar…whoops, almost trailed off there.

I also sat pondering all of the bus systems I have used. Each with their own apps to learn, recent and upcoming upgrades (I saw you, Agile DevOp’ers.), processes and cultures. (Yes, bus systems have cultures.) 

Was the first city bus ride scary? Petrifying. Is the first ride on a new system nerve wracking? Absolutely. Do I make stop mistakes? Often. Hold my phone to the wrong place to scan my pass? Every time.

But I do it. Over and over again. Not because I’m a glutton for punishment, but because I have flexed my change muscles enough I know they’re strong. I’m okay with the unknown because I know it will soon be known. And not having to tow around a vehicle behind my RV is a big WIIFM for me.

So, the next time you’re facing a change, try to see it as an opportunity to make your muscles stronger for the next one…or fifty. And shout out to everyone who has a hand in making the magic buses happen. Keep those upgrades coming.

“If you can build a muscle, you can build a mindset.”

— Jay Shetty

Shannon Vasko is a natural-born planner with a passion for strategy and integrated communications. AI was not used for content creation. © MI Compass Services.