“You Can’t Direct the Wind but You Can Adjust the Sails”
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—— “You Can’t Direct the Wind but You Can Adjust the Sails”
© 2005 by Christophe Poizat - All rights
Dear Friend,
First of all, let’s take a look at the meaning of the word
“metamorphosis” and how it can possibly be of interest to IT
Service Management. Metamorphosis: Noun (plural metamorphoses -
say metuh’mawfuhseez) … “the change of form, structure, or
substance, as transformation; the structural or functional
modification of a plant organ or structure during its
development.” Applied to IT Service Management, this does
clearly suggest a process by which we can possibly transform
ourselves and adapt to an ever-changing and complex environment
or marketplace with the clear intent to become and remain
successful.
It’s all about our personal growth and our ability to react to
the multiple challenges of life in general and the modern IT
world in particular. In a way, I am tempted to say it’s all
about the metamorphosis of ITSM tadpoles into leaping frogs!
Identifying and aligning all the pieces of this complex puzzle
takes time, quite a bit of thinking and determination. It also
requires that we constantly reconsider our approach and refine
our strategies.
Transforming ourselves has been a necessity since the dawn of
humanity and it is not any different in the modern world: if we
want to stay in business, we have to evolve. Let’s keep in mind
that it is us who have to adapt to the environment or the
marketplace and not the other way around. This is a hard fact,
it cannot be argued upon: no one can expect to win at any game
without first knowing the rules and principles. Life is a
serious game where it is possible to have a lot of fun. It has
strict rules though. First we need to study the rules then comes
the fun. Likewise, IT Service Management is a serious game where
it is possible to have a lot of fun in the process. Again, first
we need to study and master the rules.
It takes time to fully master all the different rules and
principles of life, the Great Pyramids of Giza were not built in
a day after all. It is a visible sign reminding us all of the
astounding results that can be accomplished with vision,
determination and persistence. This is exactly the same behavior
we want to apply in our ITSM practice if we are to get results
of the same magnitude.
What we have to do is study the founding principles of success
and get better at applying them effectively in the real world:
on the IT battlefield. It’s a fact: we need to get better at
mastering ITSM strategies that lead to higher levels of success.
Regardless of our level of success, both individually and as a
team, the #1 critical success factor to accomplish this is
determined by our ability to identify and process the
information that will give us the leverage that we lack to reach
the next step and thus enable greater success. The most
efficient and fastest way to increase our success is through the
adoption of behavioral patterns that will create more and more
success for us. It pretty much works like a snowball effect: the
first step is to get started to the best of our knowledge and
abilities. It can always be improved in the course of time. That
decision is ours to make. No one else can make it for us! In my
monthly newsletter, I discuss how it all works: how states of
mind and behavioral patterns are intimately connected and how
one does influence the other greatly, be it in a positive
or…in a negative way.
