So what's a broker to do? "I think we're past the point of managing change," Schoemer said. "I think we're at the point where we need to seize change and use it to our advantage. We've got to figure out where all this change is headed and start working on the qualities, skills and behaviors that will make us marketable and employable in a radically different world."

Doing that means recognizing the dynamics of change. On an individual level, change can often create a sense of loss among an industry's employees. Trust deteriorates, and employees go into self-preservation mode, thinking they'll just ride out a certain manager or a sure-to-fail organizational change. But that's the worst thing to do, according to Schoemer.

"You're being challenged every day to raise your hand, to solve problems," he said. "If you're not doing that, if you're in self-preservation mode, you're in the riskiest place you can be."

At the organizational level, change can often result in a loss of momentum as well as key talent, as communication breaks down and morale suffers. Those setbacks, though, aren't good indicators of whether the change is worthwhile or not.

"If you are using these factors to determine whether or not you're on the right road, you're using the wrong measurements," Schoemer said. "You will never make everybody happy. Stop trying. Change, don't change. Someone's still going to be unhappy."

The better reaction, Schoemer says, is to do exactly the opposite. Embrace changes immediately and you'll be able to adapt to them — and adjust to any detrimental effects — quickly. The faster you recover, the better you'll be able to weather the next change, and the next, and the next. "You don't get to control the pace of change," Schoemer said. "So if you're going to fail, do it fast."

This ability to adapt to change is going to become — more than brand or reputation or size — the key to what sets a successful company apart from its competitors.

"Traditional advantages, like price, quality and service, are going away," Schoemer said. "That's just the price of admission these days. Customers today are asking 'What have you done for me lately?' and then, 'What will you do for me tomorrow?'"