Is change always about DOING something?

Some content in today's newsletter was published April, 2019.

Want to rent a movie tonight?

If you happen to live in Bend, Oregon put down that remote and head to your local Blockbuster. 

That's right! The Last Blockbuster is still open for business and it is, in fact, the very last one of its kind in the world. 

Jeff wrote an article about the demise of Blockbuster and visited the store in Oregon back in 2019. 

We decided to go back (virtually) to see if the store is still there. And, it is!

The Last Blockbuster (as it has been coined) survived the COVID pandemic without laying off any of its employees. 

This store’s epic survival was depicted by a cockroach in a Super Bowl ad earlier this year. We can't think of a better compliment!

At this point you might be wondering, "what's the point?"

Change.

And how, in a world of constant change, our businesses and organizations can survive and thrive. 

Consider the fact that in 2004 there were 9,000 Blockbuster stores worldwide, and in 2011 Dish Network bought Blockbuster for a “bargain price” of $320 million.

By then Blockbuster had shrunk to 300 stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2010.

But beyond being an iconic pop culture curiosity, what does this mean for contemporary leaders?

All organizations whether corporate, non-profit, public service, governmental, etc. want to be “innovative”, and their leadership seek to create a climate that encourages this.

Peter Drucker, a renowned leadership consultant, educator, and author, observed that innovation is “change that brings on a new level of performance”.

How do you bring on a new level of performance in your organizations?

Check out Jeff's article AND video about fixed vs. free energy to learn more!

He breaks down how change can ruin an organization and how understanding fixed vs. free energy can help you keep up with inevitable change. 

Dealing with a "bad boss?"

In October 2022, about 4 millions Americans, left their jobs. A trend that started back in 2021. 

Workers have cited low pay, no advancement opportunities or feeling disrespected as the reasons for quitting. 

So you don’t like your boss, or maybe your boss doesn’t like you.

Either way, you two aren’t getting along and communication is breaking down. You’re starting to feel like the odd man or woman out on all the work that you once found fulfilling.

Before you start heading toward the exit, perhaps you ought to reconsider.

Having a bad boss can be an excellent opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills, so that you can lead everyone — even your boss — in the workplace.

All that this requires from you is a proactive spirit and a desire to make the best office space possible.

One of the most common reasons for leaving a job is an incompetent or haughty supervisor, so let's flip that proposition on it's head and refuse the easy surrender. 

The most gratifying jobs can sometimes force us to interact with difficult people, so consider this an opportunity to get some practice in. 

This article addresses four things to consider before leaving that bad boss behind. 

1. Figure out if they're really a bad boss. 
2. Identify their motivations. 
3. Don't back down from your ideals. 
4. Take the high road. 
5. Avoid future bad bosses.

CLICK HERE to read more!