I Don’t Like Change – It Has to Be On My Terms

I Don’t Like Change

I don’t like change—unless I have control over when and how it is implemented.

The needs statement in my Birkman report says:

It is preferable that you be given advance warning of any change that significantly affects your life or work, and that you be provided the opportunity to express your input and ideas concerning such change.

Related to causes of stress, my Birkman report says:

Frequent interruptions can be a burden to your thoroughness. Changes which are imposed on you, with little or none of your input, may create resistance within you.

Both of these statements are very true. I tell people that I do not like to be interrupted and that they better not screw with my schedule.

Forced Change

I received the following notice in the mail on October 29th of this year:

 

 

As I said, I don’t like change that I do not have control over.

Let me give you a little background. I have had an entrepreneurial streak in me for a long time. I stayed in the corporate world for many years and did not follow my dream because my spouse was uninsurable on the open market. She has been self-employed for the last 15+ years, so I continued to follow the safe route by remaining in the corporate world.

Then came the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I am not going to debate on this blog the politics behind this piece of legislation.

ACA allowed me to pursue my entrepreneurial dream. Yes, the insurance was expensive, with high deductibles ($13,000 for the family) and limited access to doctors. We were still insured for the worst.

When I received this notice I nearly spiraled into depression. I went into my depression preventive methods but I was still in a funk for multiple days.

Did I tell you that I don’t like change that I do not have control over?

Focus on What You Can Control

I often have clients suffer greatly from MSU Syndrome when there are a lot of unknowns in their lives. If you have not already read about MSU (Make Stuff Up) Syndrome, now is a good time to read Do You Suffer from Make Stuff Up Disorder? and 3 Treatments for Make Stuff Up Disorder.

I teach these clients to focus on what they can control. If they have not heard back from a hiring manager, I have them reach out to those who can get them a status update.

In my case, I started doing research on alternative and less expensive sources of insurance, both of which have very few.

With these things in mind, my wife and I have been considering an overseas move. This has given us a lot of focus.

Quite by accident, I found Hanson McClain’s Money Matters podcast called Best international retirement destinations, unethical financial companies, and proactive planning to save money during retirement. Check it out.

They spoke with Art Koff, CEO/Founder of RetiredBrains.com, about the ten best international destinations for retirees. He referenced the RetireBrains page on retiring abroad.

In 2017, we will explore whether it makes sense to move first to Ecuador and then Panama.

I am focused on changes that I can control. What about you?

Marc Miller  

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