Ready Set Change

"I know what to do. I just don't do it." If you've ever said those words—or heard them from a friend, employee, student, team member, or client—this book is for you. In order to change we assume people need more information. More motivation. More accountability. A better plan. But what if we've been solving the wrong problem? After 40+ years as a therapist, executive coach, organizational consultant, and university professor, Dr. Lawrence Pfaff came to a different conclusion. The greatest obstacle to change isn't a lack of knowing what to do. It's a lack of readiness to do it. That's the Knowing-Doing Gap. The Knowing-Doing Gap doesn't just explain personal change. It also explains why teams, organizations, and even cultures struggle to change. Every change—whether it's a person breaking a habit, a manager coaching a resistant employee, or a leader steering an organization through transformation—runs on the same psychological engine. A person who can't stick to an exercise plan and a team that agrees change is needed but never quite gets there are experiencing that same Knowing-Doing Gap. Because all meaningful change—whether personal, professional, or organizational—ultimately occurs one person at a time. In Ready Set Change you'll follow the true, year-long journey of 21 people as they struggle, relapse, grow, and ultimately transform. Their story helps explain why: Individuals continue repeating patterns they genuinely want to leave behind People remain stuck despite clear, genuine insight Employees resist well-designed change initiatives Leaders struggle to change their behaviors Parents find that advice alone rarely changes their children At the heart of the book is a powerful insight: Successful change follows five predictable stages. Precontemplation – The need for change hasn't yet been recognized Contemplation – The person is weighing whether change is worthwhile Preparation – Readiness is beginning to take shape Action – New behaviors are being implemented Maintenance – Lasting change is being sustained Here's what changes everything: The intervention that helps in one stage often fails in another. When we match approach to a person's readiness, change becomes possible. Inside you'll discover: Why knowing what to do isn't enough—and what creates lasting change How to recognize each stage of readiness in yourself and others Why setbacks and relapse are a normal part of successful change Why "going on" a diet or program can set you up to fail How to help clients, employees, family members, friends and teams move forward without triggering more resistance How this framework can be applied in multiple settings This book is for you if... You're trying to change yourself You help others change as a therapist, coach, consultant, healthcare professional, teacher, friend or parent You lead people as an executive, manager, HR professional, etc. You're responsible for organizational change You've wondered why people know what to do but still don't do it For more than four decades, Dr. Lawrence Pfaff has worked with individuals and organizations face a common challenge: Helping people turn knowledge and insight into action. Ready Set Change helps you understand not only what needs to change, but when, why, and how lasting change becomes possible. Because whether you're changing one person or an entire organization...all change begins as personal change. And lasting change doesn't happen by trying harder. It happens by doing the right work at the right time.