Paradigm Shift was a buzzword that came into favour in the world of business management in the mid 1990's. I remember the first time my boss used it to describe how the OPS (Ontario Public Service) was changing and how managers were going to have to be prepared for the fallout.
Not surprisingly, it is a phrase that incessantly buzzes in my head these past few months. My world, and the world of so many others has shifted. Some would say shattered.
Thomas Kuhn, the man who developed this theory believed that "Successive transition from one paradigm to another is the usual developmental pattern of maturity.".
While we pick up the pieces and learn radically different ways of thinking and organizing ourselves, this transition marks a new beginning. There are so many good quotes on new beginnings. These will be our buzzwords in the months to come:
''Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.'' - Carl Bard
''Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.'' - Henry Ford
''I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship.'' - Louisa May Alcott
''The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow.'' - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
End, start, failure, sail, tomorrow. And so it begins.
