Change happens. It may be slow and at a glacial pace but it happens. There are reasons why change occurs and why it is so difficult and slow to happen. Change occurs in two ways: It is either forced upon us or we initiate change. Our thought process has a lot to do with the change we experience. Also, unique emotions tend to guide us on how we will accept, refuse or initiate change. The path of change may be denial as we hold on to what we know to be true, and then resist change at all costs. Some experts predict the younger generation is more adaptable to change as they rely more on “conceptual” thinking than us in the older generations.
Conceptual thinking is focusing more on the big picture, being a bit more creative and searching for new solutions to old problems—thus creating new opportunities and taking advantage of societal changes. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are inventions from these conceptual-type thinkers. They saw an opportunity and thought to themselves, “How can I make something happen? How can I take advantage of new technology?” They often are labeled as “free thinkers” by believers; and, as “out there” by the “linear” thinkers. The linear thinker relies on a basic step by step approach and sees a straight line through a series of tried-and-true steps to solve a problem. The conceptual thinker works a more complex process to reach a goal. Successful linear thinkers have achieved success by lineal thinking; they know what has worked, made them successful, and ask themselves, “why change?” You can’t blame them—it worked.