The Stages of Change Model

Entrepreneurs need to know about the stages of change model. Here's a description that seems pretty comprehensive, from Mark F. Kern, "The Stages of Change Model was originally developed in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente at the University of Rhode Island when they were studying how smokers were able to give up their habits or addiction. The SCM model has been applied to a broad range of behaviors including weight loss, injury prevention, overcoming alcohol, and drug problems among others. The idea behind the SCM is that behavior change does not happen in one step. Rather, people tend to progress through different stages on their way to successful change. Also, each of us progresses through the stages at our own rate."(www.addictioninfo.org/articles/11/1/Stages-of-Change-Model/Page 1..html)

The model specifies 5 changes: pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation/determination, action/will power, maintenance, and relapse.

It has provoked a huge literature, and a lot of academics don't like it for varying reasons. It seems serviceable enough, though, if you don't take it too far. Check that website for more on it.

All of my activites are entrepreneurial. For my thoughts on entrepreneurial real estate, see www.yourstopforrealestate.com/blog. To read my thoughts on writing and publishing, go to www.kearneymusicschoolmurders.blogspot.com.