The Times They are a Changin’
“If your time to you is worth savin’, then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin’ ” Bob Dylan
These powerful words from Bob Dylan were just as true in 1963 when his song was rising up the charts as they are today. The world is always changing and it is changing faster and faster. The way we communicate, find information, entertain ourselves, and shop have all changes in just the last few years. We have brand new ways to get information and learn about new things. I remember looking through encyclopedias as a kid. What an awful way to learn about old information. Now you can search up to the minute information on Twitter or the latest on Google.
This rapidly changing world creates so many opportunities. People are looking for new ways to be entertained, get information, and to buy things. It is so easy to build a following of loyal customer through a blog, Facebook, and/or a Twitter account. There is no need to throw away hundreds of dollars on newspaper and yellow page ads. They may have worked for your parent’s company, but now you have free access to reach millions world wide.
I began thinking about this a couple of weeks ago when I had two older ladies (older than my mother) say to me that I shouldn’t be wearing a spring jacket in the middle of winter. I was wearing a thin Wind Stopper jacket (I’m a bit of a hiking gear enthusiast). It is as thin as a spring jacket but is very warm and does not allow any wind to break through. I realized that these older ladies only knew a world with big bulky winter jackets. But the world has changed, the technology has advanced, and the truths known to the older generation are now as out of date as the encyclopedias.
I was working in a bank while I watched the Internet phenomenon build. Banks are dead. Banks are the dinosaur. They do not adapt to change. They move too slow because they are forced into being extremely conservative. They can’t see any opportunity beyond the same business plan that has gotten them into this trouble. How are banks trying to lure new customers… by giving away $100 gift cards, ipods, or some other awesome gifts. They wouldn’t have to buy customers if they would just innovate and do something different. Of course it is hard to get customers when there is a bank on every corner and they all do exactly the same thing.
You can not stop the world from changing. I suggest you use these excellent opportunities to build the lifestyle you desire. Don’t be a dying breed. Now is the time to start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone.