Changing for the better

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that change is inevitable, and the ability to pivot quickly to those changes can make or break you. From the time we are born, we are constantly changing and adjusting our roles. If you are the first-born, you enjoyed that period of being lauded and spoiled, until that new sibling arrived and you were forced to share the limelight. What then followed was a series of firsts as you grew older, experienced more and adapted and learned new coping skills, accordingly. Like the younger bodies we once had, we were flexible and open to whatever life threw at us.

As we get older, it seems as though we become less flexible, more set in our ways. A hardening of the ‘attitudes’, tends to set in.  As a result, we are less open to change and new ideas, and more apt to look backwards to draw on previous experiences for guidance, rather than to seek a new way. There is certainly wisdom to be gained from previous experiences, yet even the strongest tree sheds its leaves every year, and enjoys a rebirth of sorts every spring. Every one of us has the unique opportunity to change our lives every day and shed an old habit. Whether it be a change of wardrobe or attitude, the smallest of adjustments in our own lives can have a huge change.

In the Corporate world, let’s take an example of a global brand like Shell Oil.  One of the world’s largest and richest energy companies can trace its beginnings to a small antique store in London. In the 1830s, Marcus Samuel ran an antiques and collectibles shop specializing in decorative shells he imported from the Far East. His sons expanded this into a broader import/export business. Their ships would leave London stocked with machinery and tools and return from Japan and China with rice, silk and copperware.

By the late 19th century, the stage was set for a global oil boom. The internal combustion engine was fueling a transportation revolution that ran on oil. The Samuels built the world’s first bulk oil tanker adding tremendous efficiency to the oil delivery pipeline to Europe. In 1897, they renamed their shipping business the Shell Transport and Trading Company.

In the early 20th century, Shell merged with Royal Dutch Petroleum — its closest competitor in Far East oil fields — to join forces against John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. The new Royal Dutch Shell Group replaced its former logo, a mussel shell, with the scallop shell, now visible at 44,000 Shell stations worldwide. From decorative shells to gas stations..that’s some transformation!

At APlus, our changes may not have been quite as dramatic as that, but we are always looking for ways to improve the quality of our people, products and service to our clients. We remain open to change, feedback and finding a better way. Thankfully, we have many people that are willing to come on the journey with us. Buckle up, we’re just getting started!