Change is Opportunity.
Embrace it!
No Excuses. This is How I Did It!
DR. MICHELLE ROZEN
Why Focus On Change?
I’m often asked what led me to pursue the field of change. What’s my fascination with the power of the human mind in overcoming mental obstacles to changes big and small? Why do things like motivation, fear, and adaptation interest me enough to build a career around them?
Well, when you’re working full-time at a job you dislike in the face of a collapsing economy while raising very young children, all of a sudden change starts to sound more and more appealing. During that rough time in my life many years ago, I was extremely frustrated. I constantly felt like I was wearing shoes three sizes too small. I ended my days feeling overworked and unappreciated.
For the good of my family and myself,
it was time for - You Guessed It
A CHANGE
THE JOURNEY TO CHANGE BEGAN WITH CHANGE
Back then, I’d meet my good friend at Starbucks at 7am every Saturday morning before our kids woke up. One day, I told her how much I hated my job and routine. She looked at me and said, “Then change it. Go to school and change your path.”
“I wish I could,” I told her while holding back the tears. “My kids are so young, and they need me. Adam is in a startup and never home. One day, when the time is right, I’ll do exactly that.”
She gave me a sharp look and then told me something that changed my life.
“Michelle,” she said, “you just don’t get it, do you? Your kids will always need you and Adam will always be in a startup. Go and sign up for classes this week, and tell me next Saturday that you’ve done it.”
I looked at her puzzled. That never crossed my mind. I never thought of it that way.
So, I registered. I committed
to change.
MOTIVATION AND ADAPTATION LEAD TO BREAKTHROUGHS
Not many people start their master’s with a five-year-old toddler, one-year-old infant, full-time job, and spouse who constantly travels. The new 3am to 6am shift for studying was brutal, but my life was suddenly full. I was being challenged. I was finding fulfillment. I was going somewhere.
Then, in 2008, the economy nosedived. My husband’s startup shut down. Being challenged moved closer to being broken. I told my husband that I thought the most sensible thing for me to do was to take a break.
“I’ll go back to school later,” I told him. “When things get better and the time is right.”
He looked at me and said two things that I’ll thank him for every day for the rest of my life. “Who deserves a PhD more than you?” Then, he said, “Michelle, if you leave now, you won’t go back. Stay with the program no matter what and finish your degree.” So, I stayed.
A few semesters in, I found myself struggling with bills, kids, work, and school. The juggle impacted my coursework, and I even received a warning letter from the university. It said I was on probation unless I repeated a class. I literally sat and cried.
Once again, I told my husband that I should take a break. He said to me, “Michelle, repeat the class. You won’t even remember it later. Swallow your pride and repeat the class.” So, I did.
Fast forward to the day I got my PhD. It wasn’t about the degree that day. Rather, it was a day, for both of us, that epitomized incredible teamwork against all odds. It was a day that symbolized how change, no matter how significant or challenging, is an opportunity rather than an obstacle when approached the right way.
Cracking The Code Of Change Is Cracking The Code To Leadership And Growth
I’ve now been consulting world-class brands on engagement and motivation through change for over a decade. My passion comes from personal experience with the challenges this process presents. Nothing makes me happier than to see how the tools I offer have transformed leaders, teams, and individuals both professionally and personally.
My promise is to help you crack the code of change. I’m here to guide you through proven practices that will support your people in not only embracing it, but in recognizing and navigating the opportunities it presents.
Knowing how to lead change is the master key to success in every aspect of our lives. Let’s use it to unlock that success for your organization in a brave new world.
