What Motivates us to Look at Things Differently?

I posted a question on LinkedIN the other day on the topic of how we motivate ourselves to look at things differently. The exact question was “What motivates you to look at things differently, to be open that there may be possible alternative approaches?” and the link to the question and answers is at http://www.linkedin.com/answers/management/business-analytics/MGM_ANA/312524-3632843. The responses to date have been quite interesting.

The reality is we all want things to be different; we just don’t want any changes to impact us. How many times have you heard someone going on and on about something and never really taking any specific action to make a difference? Verbalizing a problem over and over has never made it go away. The only thing that will make a difference is stepping back and being really motivated to look at the current situation, understand why it is the way it is and then mapping out some real solution alternatives.

The trouble is, in many cases that motivation to do something about it never materializes and the situation stays as it is. Now back to my question that started all of this. What gets us to the point where the pain of staying the same is greater then the pain of making a change, forcing some real action? Why do organizations go on and on living with known process issues without doing something about it? Stated reasons are usually one of money, time or people, although I believe that’s a smoke screen and the real issue comes down to a fear of change. What do you think?