If you are going to make a change, don't go halfway. Make it

The words of Gary McCord—“If you are going to make a change, don't go halfway. Make it with conviction and stick with your new idea. Ignore the scoffers. Remember, it is a law of nature that if something is different you're going to be taunted, jeered, and told the world is flat. Let the doubters fall off the edge”—resonate with the timeless call to courage, perseverance, and conviction. Here, change is not a timid experiment or a half-hearted attempt; it is a deliberate, whole-hearted commitment to a new path or vision. McCord emphasizes that the path of innovation, progress, or personal transformation will inevitably meet resistance, but the strength of conviction must not waver.

The meaning of this reflection is clear: transformative endeavors require courage to defy conformity and the discipline to persist despite derision. Human nature resists the unfamiliar; society scoffs at that which challenges tradition or expectations. To make a change successfully, one must embrace the inevitability of criticism, ridicule, and disbelief. The strength of the individual lies in remaining steadfast, holding fast to conviction, and allowing the doubters to remain behind while the innovator forges forward.

History offers vivid examples of this principle in action. Consider Galileo Galilei, who declared that the Earth revolved around the Sun, challenging the prevailing Ptolemaic worldview. Scoffers, authorities, and scholars jeered, imprisoned, and condemned him. Yet Galileo persisted in his observations, his calculations, and his writings, fundamentally altering humanity’s understanding of the cosmos. His unwavering commitment exemplifies McCord’s counsel: change requires conviction, and the scoffers, fearful of the new, will fall away.

Similarly, in the realm of social transformation, Rosa Parks made a small yet profound act of change when she refused to yield her bus seat. In that moment, she ignored scoffers, critics, and societal pressure, acting with full conviction. Her steadfastness ignited a movement for civil rights that transformed a nation, showing that personal commitment to change, even in the face of ridicule or resistance, can reshape the course of history.

The lesson, O seekers, is that the pursuit of change demands courage, commitment, and resilience. One cannot tread lightly or vacillate when stepping into the unknown; the half-hearted falter, while the resolute endure. McCord’s words remind us that skepticism and derision are natural reactions to novelty. Those who cannot see the potential of a new idea are bound by fear or habit; it is not the innovator’s burden to carry their doubt, but to pursue the path forward with clarity and determination.

Practically, this means embracing change with full awareness and intention. Begin with careful consideration and planning, but once committed, pursue the new path with unwavering focus. Ignore taunts, ridicule, and resistance, for these are the natural responses of those anchored in the familiar. Cultivate resilience, surround yourself with supportive allies, and allow the skeptics to remain behind as you move forward. Each step taken with conviction reinforces your path and strengthens your ability to enact meaningful transformation.

Thus let it be inscribed upon the scrolls of memory: change demands conviction, and the doubters will fall away. Gary McCord reminds us that the natural order of resistance is not a barrier but a signal: that what is new, different, and transformative challenges the complacent. To embrace change fully is to step boldly into the unknown, to honor one’s vision, and to allow the path forward to unfold with courage, discipline, and unwavering resolve.