The Power of Incremental Change

We’ve all been through the process of upgrading our technology. It’s a universal experience in our lives. And technology isn’t always what’s upgraded. Sometimes we’re forced to upgrade our habits and lifestyles. Other times, we optimize our existing lifestyle. It’s all in the same bucket of “change”.

Change can be transformational, evolutionary, transitional, incremental, or developmental. Transformational change is most disruptive due to its scale, complexity, and costs. Incremental and evolutionary change occurs gradually, making it easier to manage.

We often can't afford transformational change due to limited time, money, resources, knowledge, or energy. This is common for businesses, particularly those with outdated enterprise systems that grow less compatible with modern technology.

This concept applies at a personal level, too. In 2024, I upgraded my aging personal computer (PC) and throughout 11 years of delaying a full upgrade, I learned valuable lessons about accepting limitations, optimizing what I have, and the power of incremental and evolutionary change, when transformational change (buying/building a new PC) wasn't an option for me. This is a story about how to succeed when big change can't happen.

How it Started

In 2011, a family member asked me to build a budget-friendly custom PC with slightly above average components.

The hardware:

• ASUS motherboard

• 250GB HDD

• 16GB memory

• Nvidia graphics card

• AMD Athlon II Tri-core processor. Tri-core? Yes. Tri-core

After 2 years of use, the PC was replaced with a MacBook, and I was gifted the PC. I quickly observed its declining performance after a year or so. High-performance hardware is costly, and I couldn't afford the big upgrades I wanted, so I made compromises.

Making the Best of It

How did I make this dinosaur of a PC last a total of 13 years? Over time, I upgraded many components to avoid the high cost of replacing the entire PC.

Here’s a list:

• Replaced the Nvidia graphics card with a high-performance model, twice

• Replaced the 250GB HDD with a 500GB SSD

• Upgraded the memory from 16GB to 32GB

• Installed a second 1TB SSD for faster local data backup

Unfortunately, the processor and motherboard were holding me back. After running out of options, I decided to leave it as it was until it no longer performed efficiently. In its final years, the PC became a source of stress.

• I couldn’t use it for photo/video editing anymore. My editing passion took a hit.

• Syncing with OneDrive took ages making it hard to store new files

• Every website and application was slow, no matter how simple

• Rebooting was painful, and it started rebooting on its own without explanation

• Accessories often didn’t work, so I stopped exploring new devices

• The desktop took up a lot of space under my desk and I didn't want to sit there anymore

What I’m Using Now

After thorough research, I ordered a Dell Inspiron 3030S with upgrades. A few days later it arrived, and my PC migration began. I was proud of making my old PC last so long but excited to move on to the fastest computer I've ever owned.

Lessons Learned

Overall, the migration wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be.

My observations:

• OneDrive synced within a couple hours; significantly faster than the 9 days it took last time on the old PC. Yes, 9 days…

• I didn't have any app data to transfer since I uninstalled most apps from my old PC.

• The Dell has a Wi-Fi adapter, so I was happy to say goodbye to my external adapter.

• The Dell is smaller than the old PC, creating new space under my desk.

• The catharsis was real, and I found myself elated like a kid in a toy store.

• The process was stress-free with the cumulative knowledge I've gained.

Other lessons learned:

• PC hardware is affordable now, and even average components are still powerful.

• Despite the old PC’s age, I became attached. It can be hard to let go when something is part of your life for so long. I still haven’t tossed it after 6 weeks.

• I have a new appreciation for hardware evolution. Instead of waiting 15 seconds for my browser to load, it’s now instant. I’m still getting used to it!

• I delayed a disruptive and costly upgrade for 11 years, and I can do it again if needed.

The Power of Incremental Change

In conclusion, if transformational change isn't feasible, incremental and evolutionary change are far less costly and disruptive alternatives. And while they have potential to present the risk of reaching a "ceiling" like I did, they can also offer a lifeline until transformational change is feasible. No matter the type of "upgrade" waiting for you (technology, life, business), don't give up, stay the course, and work with what you've got. And when the transformation finally arrives, embrace it!