Your Window for Change

Have you ever faced a moment when you knew change was essential, yet the opportunity slipped by? Timing is everything, especially when it comes to making significant changes in life and business.

Several years ago, I worked with a Board overseeing a residential drug and alcohol addiction treatment service. This service focused on facilitating behavioural changes for their clients. They understood that clients went through specific stages leading up to entering treatment, during treatment, and after completing treatment.

The most crucial step was the first one: deciding to seek help. They discovered that once a client made this decision, they had a critical period, they called the "Two Week Window" to get the client into treatment. Doing so tripled their chances of successful completion.

Why was this period so important?

The decision to take action was the fourth stage in the cycle of change. Missing this window didn't just set the person back to the third stage, as you might assume, the person went back to the beginning, the first stage.  

Here's a closer look at the stages of change:

• Stage One: The person is unaware they need to change or is not considering it. Life is 'normal.'
• Stage Two: The person starts to contemplate the need for change but makes no commitment to act.
• Stage Three: The person decides to change and begins planning to take action.
• Stage Four: The person takes active steps towards change, such as seeking help.
• Stage Five: The person works to sustain the change and prevent a relapse. A relapse means they start at the beginning.

These stages are universal. We all experience them, even if unconsciously, in relationships, life decisions, and business decisions requiring significant behavioural changes.

When it comes to exiting or preparing to exit a business, owners often fail to recognise the need for behavioural change for a successful exit. Many only become aware at a late stage, leaving insufficient time to accumulate and maximise the benefits.

You don't have to experience this cycle. Decide to seek help and take action now. Embrace the change before the window closes, and ensure your journey toward business success and personal growth is a triumph. You owe it to yourself.