24. Embrace Change.

What got us here is not always the same as what will take us to the next level. Be inspired by the opportunities that change brings, rather than stubbornly holding on to the old ways of doing things. Be flexible and open to new approaches, whether it’s technology or a new process to improve efficiency.

Rick's Message:

“All change might not be progress but all progress is the result of change.”

Coach John Wooden

I was hired at Famous 14 years ago. I sat down at my desk at Melwood on my first day and thought my career at Famous would last about six months. At the time we transferred products from branch to branch and it would sometimes take a week or more to get product to our customers. I had a customer joke with me that a coil of copper tube he received looked like it had been on tour because it had so many transfer labels on it. I knew that if we continued on that path that we would not to be able to meet the customer’s expectations and we would fail. But then came our CDC (Central Distribution Center) and things changed. We were able to get product the next day, and now we have three DC’s and the best service in our market. There was some resistance and pain with the change but we would not have survived if we continued to do business the way we did prior to the DCs. We have made huge progress over the years, all because we were willing to embrace and accept change. Had we not, we would not be the company we are today. As we continue to change, we will become the company we can be in the future.

Change is the engine that drives improvement. Sometimes it is not easy, but if you don’t try something new there is no possibility of improvement. There will be times that change does not produce a positive result, but the key is to try. If we do not embrace change we will stop moving forward and quickly begin to move in the other direction.

Embracing change in work and life is essential to growth and encourages development. Change never seems natural or easy but embracing change is a key to success and happiness.

Throughout my career I have seen many changes. Some that were easy to embrace and some that were not. But the one thing that is for sure is that change will keep happening faster than ever before. There will be exciting opportunities for those who decide to accept the challenges of an ever changing world.

There are many associates at Famous that demonstrate this fundamental. One who comes to mind is Chris Murphy who has recently accepted the challenge of moving into purchasing from a career in sales. By embracing this change he has created an opportunity for growth and improvement for Famous as well as enhancing his own experience in our business.

Change is constant and how you embrace it will determine your growth and development in business and life.