Calculus of Change

Change is one of two "constants" in our lives (the other is principles).

In management theories, we were taught that people resist change. Some people also think that "change" is painful. To get out of our comfort zone, we were told. And of course, Obama and his "Change, yes we can" campaign.

In all, many people see change as a bad word. Or some may even proclaim that change is a necessary evil. Whatever the case may be, change has triggered one too many negative connotations that people usually associate it with pain.

From a calculus stand-point, I'd like to share how change can be understood in order to drive home the point.

Let's say we have a quadratic equation; y = x-square + x + 1. When we perform a differentiation on this equation, we have dy/dx = 2x + 1. A further second-order differentiation will give us (d-square) y/d(x-square) = 2. And a final third-order differentiation will give us the result "zero". And that is because differentiation of a constant gives us "zero".

Here's where the fun begins. If we remain constant, that is we do not change what we do, how we think, the way we work; we will be like the third-order differentiation result; zero. In other words, for a small change in "x" (let us substitute "x" for time), we will see a zero displacement.

If we are slightly better, being like the second-order differentiation result of 2x + 1, we will be progressing albeit at a linear fashion. Meaning to say that, our results will be a direct function of what we put in, in a linear fashion. Hence, if you put in more time; you will get more. But you cannot see exponential growth unless you assume the quadratic equation.

Only then, will you be able to get results that have a multiplier effect. Assuming you put in 2 ounce of effort, where "x" is effort, your results would be seven ounce of outcome. And if you increase by another ounce of effort, your results do not follow a linear progression, but you get 13! Here, by increasing your effort by 50% you see an increase in output by some 86%! What a great difference (in which case for the linear equation you'd only see a 40% increase).

So, how can we all assume the power of the quadratic equation? I believe the answers lie with "leverage", "synergy", "abundance", and "empathy". When we "engage" another person using those 4 principles that I've just mentioned, we see growth explodes. And say, for every person that you are able to "engage" it would mean you equation moves in tandem.

Say, if you work alone, over time at best you can only grow in a linear fashion. But when you work with another you become a quadratic equation, two more people and you become a cubic equation, and so forth.

Hence, when you change and we don't just mean doing things better or faster, when you work alone at best you will see increasing linear results. But when you change the way you do things and are able to "engage" others to move in tandem with you, you'll see exploding growth! Much like those cartoons where the line goes out of the chart's plotting area and upwards to the wall!

But as "change agents", you must also understand and obey the principles stated above. These principles are like natural laws, where whether you acknowledge it or not, it will act on you; nuch like gravity.

So, my friends, "change, we must" and when it is painful that's when you know you are growing for without pain we will not grow.

Respectfully yours,
Melvyn Tan
(Sent from my Blackberry Bold)