The noble warriors of feudal Japan continue to fascinate admirers the world over. But just because their era has passed doesn't mean you can't still become a samurai today…a Change Samurai! It takes commitment and may alienate the status quo…but, the path of change demands no less. If you want to be normal (the cycle on a washing machine) then please continue with your normal life. If you want to be a Change Samurai, then commit yourself to the Change Samurai code.
1. Find a cause, or challenge to swear fealty to. A Change Samurai is nothing without a passion to serve: some greater entity to which you may dedicate your life.
2. Learn the characteristics of Change and the use of various frameworks. Educate yourself in case studies and cultural adaptions. Understand the use of interventions and the strict tenets guiding when and where they may be applied.
3. Devote yourself to the seven virtues of bushido: gi (rectitude), yu (courage), jin (benevolence), rei (respect), shin (honesty), meiyo (honour), and chugi (loyalty). Strive to embody these virtues in all that you do to direct positive change.
4. Swear fealty to your passion for change. Convey your responsibilities with honour as a symbol of your rank. Your model for change is called a katana (it is the largest of the Samurai swords) and the interventions that you implement are wakizashi (the smallest sword).
5. Be true to your customer in all things. Strive to do right by them and serve the tenets of honour through your duty to them. This does not mean blindly following their instructions, however. If you disagree with your customer, strive to persuade them of your point of view with every means available, but be prepared to respect their final decision should your efforts fail.
6. Be a thought leader in the change profession. Become respected as a compassionate teacher of change to the young change samurai. Coach those who are struggling to understand the concepts of change.
7. Treat others with courtesy and respect. Answer force in kind, but do not seek conflict where it can be avoided.
8. Contemplate your actions before reaching a decision. When you have determined a course, do not hesitate, but follow through with conviction and certainty.
9. Prepare yourself for your own change. It may come in battle or at the behest of your customer, but when it comes, you must meet it head-on. Meditate a little each day on the subject and accept the certainty of its eventual arrival.
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