Change Lessons From Slaughterhouse Five

Some changes happen because of some incident or accident. Someone got fired because of an unforeseen reorganization. How do you handle such a change? Do you pursue a revenge or will you search for a new way for your life?

\"Revenge is not always a good idea,\" said the author of Slaughterhouse Five in an interview last year. And as change is concerned he is right. Revenge will take you nowhere.

Perhaps you could have prevented your dismissal. Perhaps you could have competed a bit more to save you job. But it is also possible that it just happens to you - \"You could be the next one, or do you think that this will not happen to you,\" replied the Queen to Tony Blair at the end of the movie.

So just take for granted that anything will happen to you on day. And than what will you do?

Revenge will take you nowhere, but you will have to face the emotion. Putting your energy on emotions that lead to a dead-end is one strategy. Revenge remains of all times. But is it an effective change strategy, or could you do without?

Only just now I searched for the little \"poem\" somewhere in the middle of Slaughterhouse Five. In vain. But it must be there somewhere on the web. I think that the idea was this:

I hope that I can be wise enough to influence things that can be changed and strong enough to let go of that what I can not influence anyhow...

If you really want to get somewhere you will have to overcome your emotions and start thinking again.

2007 Hans Bool

Hans Bool writes articles about management, culture and change. If you are interested to read or experience more about these topics have a look at: Astor White or sign-up for our newsletter.

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