February 15, 2024
Change is Hard
At the 4-H Project Partnership Team summit earlier this month, I asked the participants who liked change. Out of the 70 people attending, not many raised their hands. This was not surprising to me as we are all creatures of habit. Change, for most, is hard.
One of the quotes I have in my office is:
Fight your natural resistance to change. Figure out what needs to be done. Find out what no longer needs to be done, then stop doing it. Separate the wheat from the chaff and invest your time and energy in the wheat. Don’t do more with less; do more by doing it differently. Work smarter. Perpetually adjust, refine, innovate, adapt. – Unknown
Embracing change gives us the possibility to unlock a door to progress, growth, and innovation. In the world of 4-H and Extension, tradition is so important. Yet, over the years, we have changed! Today, we need to remember if we don’t accept an opportunity to continue to change and make progress, we will go nowhere fast. Success isn't about standing still; it's about continually evolving, pushing boundaries, and daring to innovate. The work the 4-H Project Partnership Teams are doing is going to push boundaries and dare to go where we have not gone before. Just because something hasn’t been done a certain way, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying.
Here is to a future filled with endless possibilities, fueled by our willingness to embrace change, and explore uncharted waters. I cannot wait to see what our 4-H Project Partnership Teams are going to bring forth this year and beyond for Kansas 4-H. Thank you to the 4-H members, volunteers, Extension professionals, and state team members who are leading some of this change through the work of the 4-H Project Partnership Teams.