Everything changes. People change. Plants and trees change. Animals change. Towns and cities change. Prices change. Businesses change.

Did you ever see stagnant water, all scummy and yucky? That’s what not changing looks like. We all know people who are stuck in the ‘50s or ‘60s or ‘70s, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t changed.

Don’t believe that myth that people CAN’T change; we all do, and not just physically. We grow more or less confident, let life’s trials beat us down or grow stronger. Some of us gain wisdom; others thrive on playing the victim. Some individuals live their lives according to the script written in their childhood; others grow up and write their own script. Some people are continually expanding their horizons. Most learn to think for themselves and depend on themselves.

Very few businesses can continue to succeed without changing. That might mean adjusting prices up or down, adding new product or services or focusing more heavily on customer service. It might mean tightening the belt or loosening the purse strings, trimming down the employee roster or adding new workers. And it might mean going off in a new direction. In the early ‘80s, a young man spent five years earning a degree in architecture. In the process, he mastered the computer-aided design (CAD) technology. Once hired at a prestigious architecture firm, he became the go-to guy for CAD work. That led him to branching out as a computer expert, leading to a whole new career advising companies on their computer set-ups.

Our businesses—Orange Sky Adventures, White Wolf Private Tours, New Group Guides and La Guita Foods—continue to evolve. Because we do so many tours in Yosemite National Park, we constantly hike on our own to become familiar with the changes there. Change doesn’t have to be negative; it helps us learn and grow. Yes, everything changes. Thank goodness.