Recently, my hometown of Seattle, WA just endured what is being called the Snopocalypse. Record setting amounts of snowfall and ice blanketed the region for an entire week, completely shutting down most business, government, and any routine way of life for most people in the area. It is clear that the history of the weather we normally experience here is changing very rapidly. New records are being broken in the last year or so for snowfall (some areas here had over 16 inches this week), flooding, and number of people without power. And this is SEATTLE. What occurred to me while experiencing this was how great an analogy this is for the rest of our current reality.

Outside my house, if you were lucky enough to slide properly down my driveway to the street, and slowly make your way out to the main roads of our neighborhood, you would find the going extremely slow, slippery, and downright treacherous in some areas,  but some were still driving on it. Now, you might think that I am going to say next that these people showed persistence and drive that made them overcome the obstacle of the Snopocalypse to go about their lives in the same way they normally do. I am not. What I noticed was a deeper thought. On these same streets were a few other people. They were not in their cars. They were on snowmobiles. Some others were on cross country skis. At first, a common reaction to these people could be that of disdain, because these roads are not meant for snowmobiles, and even that it is illegal to operate them on the street. And that would be true with the previous week’s circumstances.

I love this definition of insanity: continuing to do what you have done in the past and expecting different results.  But that would assume the rules are the same now as they were in the past. When the rules change, a whole new level of insanity arises. Not only is doing the same thing expecting different (or better) results insane, so is doing the same thing and expecting the same results when the rules change.

The way we do business is changing. Has changed. If we continue down the road in the same vehicle that has worked for us in the past, the best we can hope for is it might work–we may eventually get where we are going. It won’t work well–at best we will slip and slide over the road while spending more time and effort to get to the same place, or we may slide off the road entirely.

The ones that will survive are those quick to adapt. Those who notice the change, and acclimate to what is given, will continue along the path. However, the ones that will thrive are the ones who embrace that adaptation with joy. As I sat with my cup of coffee and watched the snowmobiler head up our street, I noticed a huge grin on his face. He was not only going to get where he was going faster, with less chance or injury or accident because he was using a vehicle suited for the roads the way they are now, but he was enjoying the ride.

You may not be equipped today for you want to accomplish tomorrow. Look closely at what new skills, technologies, ideas, or qualities you need to learn or develop to play by the new rules. And unlike our situation here in Seattle, the snow is not going to melt anytime soon, if ever. Make steps to change today. And enjoy the ride.