Nothing good comes easy

I was traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays, so last week's post is a little late.  If I execute my plans successfully today, you will get two posts today and one tomorrow!  Yancey Strickler, the writer, entrepreneur, and Co-founder of Kickstarter recently posted a short essay on LinkedIn entitled "This is how long it takes to change the world".  His premise is that change happens very slowly.  Evidence from a number of different disciplines shows that what he calls significant change (which he defines as "significant shifts in values, beliefs, and behavior") takes about 30 years or so.  In other words, it takes the passing of at least one or two generations before significant change really catches on and people abandon "the way we've always done things around here."  Strickler uses two examples to prove his point - the story of Joseph Lister's introduction of the antiseptic method in surgery during the 19th century and the introduction of the 3-point shot in college and professional basketball. 

Strickler closes his essay with a wonderful quote from Amazon's Jeff Bezos that comes from his 2017 letter to Amazon shareholders:

A close friend recently decided to learn to do a perfect free-standing handstand.  No leaning against a wall.  Not for just a few seconds.  Instagram good.  She decided to start her journey by taking a handstand workshop at her yoga studio.  She then practiced for a while but wasn't getting the results she wanted.  So, she hired a handstand coach.  Yes, I know what you're thinking, but evidently this is an actual thing that exists.  In the very first lesson, the coach gave her some wonderful advice. 

"Most people," he said, "think that if they work hard, they should be able to master a handstand in about two weeks.  The reality is that is takes about six months of daily practice.  If you think you should be able to do it in two weeks, you're just going to end up quitting."

Unrealistic beliefs on scope - often hidden and undiscussed - kill high standards.  To achieve high standards yourself or as part of a team, you need to form and proactively communicate realistic beliefs about how hard something is going to be.

The lesson here is pretty clear.  Nothing good comes easy.  Change is hard - even if it doesn't take 30 years, meaningful change doesn't happen overnight.  And it takes hard work, persistence, and commitment.  We've grown accustomed to instant gratification in today's modern world.  The truth is that when it comes to significant, meaningful change, there is no such thing as instant gratification. 

As Strickler points out, "Change creates compound interest: some people changing means more people change.  Change is contagious.  A growing movement can seem to tip in favor of a new idea overnight.  But for the really big changes, "overnight" takes thirty years to arrive."