There’s no stopping the march of time. Making this more difficult for some is the increasingly rapid pace of change. In many cases, people and businesses are having to adapt much faster than ever before.

Think back to how quickly many of us were forced to change the way we did things a mere five years ago during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot of people and businesses struggled miserably in the beginning, but the most adaptable survived. Ultimately, some of those adaptations ended and we reverted to the way things were before. However, other modifications appear to have been adopted permanently.

For instance, COVID-19 forced countless changes to our environments and the way we work. Products, procedures, and spaces were designed or redesigned to safeguard our health. Many people able to do their jobs from home transitioned into remote work arrangements. They found new and different ways to work regularly with others, exchange ideas, and network. Zoom and other video conferencing technologies brought people together, reducing the time and dollar costs associated with travel.

Some businesses also found real cost savings resulting from reducing or eliminating their office spaces. These and other innovations that felt forced then have now become the norm for some businesses.

Many of their workers report these more flexible working conditions have dramatically improved their lives. Others found they preferred to work from shared spaces and returned to offices. After vaccines became available, wise business leaders with the ability to do so accommodated multiple options, focusing on worker productivity and outcomes rather than solely returning to past practices.

While more than a few people would prefer everything always stay the same, the future inevitably brings new ideas and alternate ways of doing things. Some believe nothing can improve upon the past. With respect to some things that may be true, like your mom’s apple pie recipe, but in many more instances fighting progress is futile. Consequently, while there’s no stopping it, there are things you can do to help shape the future.

Some of the smartest businesses are embracing problem solvers. Be one. When conflicts and crises arise, they are the fixers.

They are the people who come up with creative solutions that deal successfully with change, even in unsteady situations and in a rapidly changing global economy.

Change can feel exceptionally uncomfortable and dangerous to many, especially to those who love ritual and embrace reliability. However, a willingness to pitch in and try new ways of doing things helps everyone. Just as important is taking the time and making the effort to regularly evaluate how things are going. That goes hand in hand with a willingness to make adjustments along the way. Flexibility is key. So is adaptability and a positive can-do attitude.

Now is not the time to go backwards.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation’s Local Economic Development committee supports creating and embracing inclusive, sustainable, and ethical solutions to local, national, and worldwide challenges. Our society can always be improved and made better if we work together and are willing to embrace and try innovative ideas and fresh new ways to work. The future will be here before we know it.

Patty Hammond is Economic Development Coordinator at the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation. The Local Economic Development (LED) Initiative is a standing committee of the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF). Send comments or suggestions to Patty Hammond at phammond@nccfoundation.org