Those of you who follow our blog are certainly aware of the fact that we focus a great deal on the subject of change … and for good reason. 98% of all significant change in the world has occurred in the last lifetime! It’s quite obvious that this rapid pace continues to accelerate!

Based on the fact that the large majority of our population has never been schooled in the fine art of dealing with change, we created a program that focused on this very need. “Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change” has been shared with tens of thousands of people from coast to coast, revealing critical tips, tools and strategies for individuals and organizations as they deal with the growing challenge of constant change.

In an attempt to enlighten our clients and readers to this rapid pace of continuous change, we’ve been sharing numerous examples on our blog page. Some are indeed serious while many fall into the humorous and sometimes even unbelievable categories. I’m not sure about today’s example. I’ll let you decide on this one.

Times Have Changed

Toothpaste is certainly something we all take for granted. It’s been in our lives forever. So has the advertising, marketing and promotion of this very necessary product. When I was a young child, I was captivated by a very enthusiastic singing beaver named “Bucky” who marched back and forth across my TV screen singing “Brusha, Brusha, Brusha.” That was enough to convince me to encourage my parents to buy the toothpaste Bucky was promoting … which happened to be IPANA. I know, it didn’t take much, did it? A singing beaver.

Times have changed. Today, the combination of competition and technology has created a greater challenge for those promoting this rather common product. Here’s how one major brand, Colgate, is dealing with this challenge.

Toothbrushes Change

A recent report claims Colgate has applied for patents to introduce a caffeinated toothbrush to help kick start mornings. Recently released patent applications reveal that Colgate-Palmotive is at least tinkering with the idea of embedding slow-release chemicals, including caffeine, into the heads of its toothbrushes. But it doesn’t stop with caffeine either.

The caffeine would exist inside of a tongue scratcher on the back of the toothbrush’s head. The application indicates that a three-month supply of caffeine could be put into each brush, though it doesn’t say how much caffeine might be released during each brushing session.

The new toothbrushes could theoretically have all sorts of chemicals. The patent application expressly states that Colgate is interested in putting appetite suppressants on the scratchers. A diet toothbrush, in other words.

The rush to insert a buzz into your morning brush won’t come without some regulatory hurdles, however. A few weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement saying that the agency would soon be investigating the safety of caffeine-additives. Its remarks came shortly after Wrigley announced it was introducing a caffeinated chewing gum.

Yet, Colgate seems to think caffeine could be marketed as a healthy alternative too. In January of this year, it touted a study by the American Cancer Society that showed that heavy caffeine consumption cut in half the risk of death from some throat and mouth cancers.

Who knows what the future may hold for toothpaste, chewing gum, or, for that matter, any industry in today’s marketplace? One thing is certain. You can expect to see rapid and radical changes take place in order to improve, market, and compete for the consumer dollar.

These changes present crucial challenges to both individuals and organizations who hope to strive for growth and success. Are you prepared to deal with those challenges and cope with the changes which await you? Give us a call at 1-800-886-2629 to learn more about our program: “Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change.”

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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After a terrific day with a roomful of very enthusiastic librarians in the beautiful city of Dayton, Ohio, I flew to New York City to finish out the week. It’s been a hectic, challenging, but very rewarding week.

I make this trip to NYC quite often, but this week is because I get to see the “One World Trade Center,” which was recently completed after years of construction by thousands of proud, dedicated and determined New York professionals.

The World Trade Center’s rebirth has long revolved around creating a centerpiece of unsparing symbolism: a skyscraper 1,776 feet tall, its height an homage and a bold statement reflecting our past while looking forward.

A few weeks ago the final two sections of the 408-foot, 758-ton spire were installed. Now keep in mind, we’re talking the spire alone! … 408 feet tall and weighing 758 TONS! What a tremendous milestone for New Yorkers and tourists from around the world as well.

The impressive skyscraper is expected to be open next year but has already been viewed by millions of locals and tourists alike who simply couldn’t wait.

A local newspaper article stated that architect Daniel Libeskind envisioned the tower “restoring the spiritual peak of the city, creating an icon that speaks to our vitality in the face of danger and our optimism in the aftermath of tragedy.” His vision more than met expectations.

With its spire reaching 1,776 feet, an echo of the nation’s founding year, it is the tallest skyscraper in the U.S. and third-tallest in the world. The spire at One World Trade Center will serve as a television and radio antenna, and it will feature an LED-powered light that will be visible from tens of miles away. The light, which will change colors, is to be activated in the next few months.

I very seldom find myself at a loss for words, but standing at the base of this magnificent structure, all I could muster was a tear in my ear and a frog in my throat! During my regular visits to this site over the past 12 years, I’ve witnessed a true miracle emerge from the site of a devastating disaster! You simply can’t stand there without experiencing great respect for the past, tremendous pride in the present and renewed hope for the future!

If you get an opportunity to visit “The Big Apple,” make it a point to visit One World Trade Center … you’ll never regret it!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard something similar to the first sentence of our headline above. It was first uttered by the popular American writer, Mark Twain, in 1897 when he said, “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated!”

I was reminded of that famous phrase recently after reading a magazine article about the rapid demise of so many things we once considered as a part of our daily life. That list included record stores, hand-written letters, VCR tapes, phone booths, newspapers, zip drives, book stores, bank branches, libraries ….WAIT! Libraries? I beg to differ!

I can understand the current plight of major bookstore chains. So many chains have already closed their doors: Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, Borders, Crown, Tower, Encore, and many others. Barnes and Nobel is currently the largest book retailer in the U.S. with 690 brick and mortar locations after having closed more than 50% of its stores.

I can see where one might assume that libraries would obviously follow the fate of bookstores. However, that isn’t the case. I’ve had the privilege to work with a large number of libraries across the country. In doing so, I’ve had the opportunity to witness, first hand, many of the reasons why libraries are enjoying a “re-birth” as they continue to grow, prosper, and serve dedicated patrons from coast to coast. In fact, I’m scheduled to work with a major library consortium in southern Ohio next week. The very fact that they’ve scheduled a session focusing on the many aspects of change explains their success in surviving and thriving in today’s chaotic business environment.

The answer is quite simple while the execution is a bit more challenging. Libraries have made the critical decision to utilize change strategies in their pursuit of customer satisfaction, loyalty and longevity. They continually strive to discover the needs and desires of those they serve and then proceed to create services to better serve those customers.

If you were to visit a progressive library today, you might be surprised at what you find. The list of services is not only impressive but probably much different than you might expect. Of course, that list differs from location to location so you’ll want to visit your local library for more details.

I don’t want to spoil your surprise, so I’m going to share just a few of the new, unique services you may find during your visit. I hope this short list will whet your appetite, enticing you to schedule that visit to your own local library.

Baby Boomers seem to have forged a strong relationship with today’s libraries as well. Due to the constant growth of technology today, many Boomers are overwhelmed at the choices and challenges available to them. Well-trained staff members offer a variety of services and assistance in this area, creating a much-appreciated comfort zone for so many.

This staff is still another tremendous asset adding great value for you. You’re going to find a very friendly, educated, and dedicated staff that is focused on meeting your every need. Libraries attract unusual staff members … those dedicated to personal growth, education, books, resources, and total satisfaction for those they serve. That staff is still another reason you’ll want to return again and again.

The Library is no longer just a lot of books —today it’s Community! Do yourself a favor and schedule a visit to your local library for you and your children and/or grandchildren. There’s something there for everyone, and you certainly won’t regret it. I’m guessing it’ll be a start to a great tradition!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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JC Penney is in the news again. It’s becoming a habit, and I’m not sure that’s a good thing for it. I’ve personally written three or four blog articles for our website trying to explain the constantly changing strategies of this 111-year-old retail icon. I’m beginning to think it’s a lost cause. The obvious reason for the constant change seems to be emerging as one of simple desperation.

JC Penney offers a unique history which may very well explain its comfort with constant change.

• It once housed several leased departments such as Sephora, Seattle’s Best Coffee, optical centers, portrait studios, jewelry repair and firearms. It also had hardware and automotive departments as well as auto repair shops.
• It was once the largest catalog retailer in the U.S.
• In 1940, Sam Walton began working at a JC Penney in Des Moines, Iowa. Walton later went on to found future retailer Walmart in 1962.
• In 1962, JC Penney entered discount merchandising with the acquisition of General Merchandise Company which gave them “The Treasury” stores which shuttered its doors in 1982.
• In 1973, JC Penney reached its peak number of stores with 2,053 stores. It now has just over 1,100.
• In 1984, JC Penney acquired the First National Bank of Harrington, Delaware and renamed it JC Penney National Bank. With the bank, the company became able to issue its own MasterCard and Visa cards.
• After several years of development, the JC Penney Television Shopping Channel appeared on cable systems beginning in 1989.
• In 2004, the company exited the drug store division after 35 years, with the sale of its Eckerd division, which was later taken over by Rite Aid.

If you happened to read my previous blog articles about JC Penney, you’re aware of the fact that it has been trying some new and creative approaches in hopes of increasing sales, profits, and customer count after several years of declining performance.

While many call its recent efforts creative, others call them radical. I shared many of them in my previous articles, and they certainly do approach “radical”! This strategy began in November 2011 when it hired the former Apple retail head, Ron Johnson, as its new CEO. In an effort to overcome a certain dowdiness in its stores, marketing, advertising and culture, Johnson made too many changes far to fast for both employees and customers.

Sales and stock value fell regularly for a year and a half, and something had to be done. Customers were staying away in droves. In early April of this year, it was announced that CEO Johnson had been fired. It was then announced that the retailer’s former CEO will be his interim replacement. I questioned that decision in my last article.

However, JC Penney quickly made another decision that I find myself questioning even more. Maybe you’ve seen it on TV. It released an ad campaign begging its customers to return, implying very strongly that previous CEO Ron Johnson messed up. JC Penney said its many problems were caused by the man with the weird ideas it had hired from Apple. He made them do all those things that drove customers away all over the country.

The ad basically said:

“So now that he’s gone, please come back. We beg you. We’ll be the old JC Penney. The one you all loved. Although maybe you didn’t all love it enough to keep shopping there, which is why we hired the man with weird ideas from Apple. But we were wrong. You were right. Well, many of you. We think. What matters with mistakes is what we learned,” whispers the contrite female voiceover. She continues: “We learned a very simple thing: to listen to you.”

Now we’ll see if that approach was tremendously courageous and creative or total stupidity. YOU will make that decision. It’s rare for an advertiser to so boldly go down upon both knees to beg its customers to come back, implying rather strongly that the previous CEO was a little too high-fallutin’ for the common retail customer.

Personally, I think JC Penney failed to listen to its customers, it made too many mistakes in a very short period of time, and today’s customers have too little patience and too many other choices at their beck and call. We’ll soon see.

Take a look at the TV commercial and see what you think.

More importantly, learn something from JC Penney’s situation in hopes of avoiding such challenges.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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I received an interesting phone call upon returning home from Cincinnati last week. It happened to be from a long-time client who has since become a close friend over the years. After some catching up, he light-heartedly asked me about my recent focus on blog articles dealing with change over the past few months. I knew he was jesting as he’s always been a devoted change agent and this was his way of giving me his stamp of approval. Our call soon ended, but my thought process didn’t.

I couldn’t help but assume that others might question my motive for our recent focus on change. I may well have been mistaken in thinking that everyone was aware of the rapid pace of change in our chaotic environment. We see examples of it almost daily in the media. We’re also witnessing an increase in individual and organizational failure resulting for those who simply can’t keep up with the increasing rate of change.

While there are a wide variety of strategies for dealing with constant change, one of the most powerful and productive I’ve ever seen was offered by the educator, author, businessman, and keynote speaker Stephen Covey. You can find it in his best-known book: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. This classic has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide since its first publication in 1989. The audio version became the first non-fiction audio-book in U.S. publishing history to sell more than one million copies.

While the strategy was created a few dozen years ago, it’s as effective today, if not more, than it was at that time. Covey spoke of the necessary and never-ending Upward Spiral to Attaining Success. This strategy certainly applies to both individuals and organizations alike. It consists of three very basic, but critical, elements which must be learned and executed by anyone and everyone seeking success in any aspect of their lives.

Covey suggests that we must Learn, Commit and Do. It’s as simple as that. Let’s examine the three powerful elements which will lead us to the success we seek.

Learn

We’ve been doing it all our lives. Sadly, far too many thought it ended with a diploma. Reality reveals that life-long learning is required to simply keep pace with technology advances, constant change and increasing chaos.

In his best-seller The World Is Flat, author Thomas Friedman said: “Never before in the history of the planet have so many — on their own — had the ability to find so much information about so many things and about so many other people!” While that is a true and powerful statement, the question is “Are we doing it?”

Commit

It’s not enough to simply learn new information and skills; it’s imperative that we commit to utilizing those resources. Many fall short at this juncture which inevitably leads to their ultimate failure.

Do

This is the third and most critical element of Covey’s message. While commitment is admirable, it means little or nothing unless it leads to execution. If we don’t DO, we FAIL to grow and achieve!

To be successful in today’s challenging world, we must internalize this powerful formula and use it regularly in the pursuit of the success we seek! Moving along the upward spiral requires us to learn, commit and do on increasingly higher planes. We deceive ourselves if we think that any one of these elements alone is sufficient.

Internalize the Upward Spiral today and enjoy the success and satisfaction it will provide for the rest of your life as you will certainly be prepared to deal with the change that lies ahead!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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If you’re a regular reader of our blog articles, you know I’m a strong advocate of change, the expansion of comfort zones, and calculated risk taking. Embracing these strategies is the only way you’re to going to succeed in today’s very competitive, ever-changing chaotic environment.

However, I also recommend that every organization recognizes the critical importance of enlightening its staff to the tips, tools and strategies of dealing with the challenges of change as well as the consequences of change, both negative and positive. Based on the number of requests we’re receiving for change management, more companies are seeing the advantages of this training.

In a previous article, I stressed the importance of “not changing for the sake of changing” as we have often witnessed the negative consequences of doing so. I used JC Penney as an example as it was promoting some rather radical changes in its efforts to regain market share. My fear was that JC Penney was biting off more than it could chew and that its customer base would not welcome these changes with open arms.

Today, the media revealed that my fears were justified. JC Penney announced that its CEO Ron Johnson has been ousted from the troubled retailer. Johnson, who formerly headed Apple’s wildly successful retail operations, was brought on by JC Penney in November 2011 in a bid to boost lagging sales, and he quickly made a number of radical changes to the century-old retailer.

Those changes made little or no difference, as I had predicted, as sales dropped a whopping 25% in his first year as CEO. Same-store sales were down 32% in the fourth quarter. As the share price dropped like a rock — it’s lost more than half its value in the last year — big investors fled for the exits.

What was even more surprising than his short reign was the fact that JC Penney replaced him with the former CEO Myron E. Ullman III. Nothing like adding insult to injury. I could be wrong, but that decision certainly sounds like another recipe for disaster!

Over the past decade, Sears, Kmart, Montgomery Wards, and JC Penney — once the top four U.S. retailers — have certainly demonstrated what can happen when you slack off, make poor decisions, rest on your laurels, and make changes for the sake of change. One of these giants has already disappeared, and industry experts have little hope for the longevity of the remaining three.

You might want to keep your eye on these major retailers to learn a valuable lesson in the fine art of avoiding extinction. In the meantime, I’ll continue my crusade across the nation sharing the insights of “Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change” to those who want to be prepared for future challenges in dealing with change!

Call Dr. Jeffrey Drake at 1-800-886-2629 for more information about this critical program.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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When it comes to change, it’s almost impossible not to find an example of it almost daily. I’ve been working a very tight schedule at the Empire State Building in the heart of New York City for the past two weeks. Early in the second week, I found myself with only a half hour between two training sessions and was in dire need of at least a cold drink to sooth my throat. I grabbed an elevator to the street level and ran across the street to McDonalds to grab a soda to take back to my next session.

That’s when I discovered still another change. I guess it was only a matter of time before touch-screen technology made an impact in the fast food industry. There, lined up along a side wall, were three giant touch-screen soda fountains. Each machine looked as though it had just landed from outer space. These giant units offer more than 125 different Coca-Cola drink products and custom flavors! The machine allows users to select from mixtures of flavors of Coca-Cola branded products which are then individually dispensed. The flavor possibilities are almost endless.

Coca-Cola actually introduced this technology in 2009 but has just recently increased its distribution efforts as part of an ongoing deployment.

Technologies involved include micro dispensing technology and proprietary PurePour technology. Both technologies were originally developed to deliver precise doses of drugs. One Freestyle unit with a similar footprint to a current vending machine can dispense 126 kinds of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages from one freestanding unit. Micro-dosing blends one or more concentrated ingredients in 46 US fluid ounces packets with water and sweetener at the point where the beverage is dispensed, thus avoiding the use of traditional 5 US gallon boxes of syrup (also known as a bag-in-a-box). Cartridges store concentrated ingredients in the dispenser cabinet and are RFID enabled. The machine uses RFID chips to detect its supplies and to radio re-supplying needs to other units. The traditional ice cube dispenser remains. The maximum rate of output is 95 drinks per hour.

There is all of this progress despite New York City’s mayor’s campaign to reduce the size of soda glasses to that of a thimble. Change marches on!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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I continue to share the many changes we see daily in so many aspects of our lives. It’s many times difficult to keep up with them all. Many individuals and organizations have fallen from grace for this very reason. We must strive to constantly enhance our ability to deal with change as we are impacted by so many critical factors:

• The economy
• New technologies
• Competition
• Government regulations
• New products and/or services
• Customer requests and demands
• Unexplained chaos such as 9-11, utilities, weather damage

I’m currently spending a couple of weeks in New York City presenting seminars in the Empire State Building. Our focus is on change and how it impacts our customer service efforts. This critical factor is currently a very decisive factor in determining the success and/or failure of so many organizations across industries.

While working with any of my clients, I always try to observe anything that I might share, barring confidentially, with other clients as well as our blog readers.

The Empire State Building is world-renowned for its unique ability to control the growing number of visitors that arrive daily to make the trip to the 102nd floor observatory. As many as 20,000 people a day make this trip to enjoy a view that is unequaled. On a clear day, visitors can see as far as 80 miles away!

It’s amazing to observe the employees in this building. They treat the building as though their own names graced the entrance. Their pride is very evident and their performance certainly reflects that fact. They’re very talented and experienced in handling a growing challenge in a world-class building in one of the largest cities in the world.

Consider the challenges they face in maintaining this colossal American culture icon:

• It has 6,500 windows and 73 elevators, and there are 1,860 steps from street level to the 102nd floor.
• It takes less than one minute by elevator to get to the 86th floor where an outdoor observation deck is located.
• The building houses more than 1,000 businesses and has its own zip code.
• More than 15,000 employees work in the building each day.
• The building has 70 miles of pipe, 2 million, 500,000 feet of electrical wire, and about 9,000 faucets. There is approximately 17 million feet of telephone wire servicing the building.
• Approximately 15,000 people work in the Empire State Building.
• It costs about $4.5 million to light the building each year.

Fortunately, they also have high-tech, state of the art technology at their disposal. The Empire State Building is currently undergoing a $550 million dollar renovation. Part of that major project includes its elevators. You’ve heard of “smart cars” … well, you’ll soon see “smart elevators” when you visit this favorite tourist destination.

In theory, these elevators are a technological marvel. They save energy and people’s time by grouping passengers going to the same floor in the same elevator. After you punch a button in the lobby telling the computer what floor you’re going to, it directs you to one of the elevators. You step into the elevator and let it to do the rest — there are no numbered buttons to push inside the car. The smart elevator already knows which floors all the passengers are going to, and it simply displays a list of the stops it’s going to make.

I imagine people will still sometimes reach for nonexistent buttons to push, and visitors will have to get an elevator re-education course. It’s going to be interesting to see how visitors react to the many interesting changes coming to this popular attraction.

It’s so reassuring to know that behind all of the new technology is a very talented, experienced, and dedicated staff which will make the many transitions much easier to deal with for the masses that visit daily.

If you’re in the neighborhood, you should really stop by and marvel at the many enhancements gracing this global icon. I’m really enjoying my two-week assignment here and always look forward to returning.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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I started writing about change 25 years ago and, to be honest, I thought I would have run out of material years ago. However, it’s been just the opposite. Today, I can’t write fast enough to keep up with the daily changes we encounter and our change program (Productive Chaos: Riding the Wave of Change) continues to be our most requested seminar and keynote.

Of course, some things never seem to change. For instance:

• Very few people seem to like change.
• Many simply refuse to change.
• Most wait too long to change.
• Many change only when forced.
• Successful individuals and organizations encourage and support change and are usually the first to do so.
• Finally, few seem to learn anything from the above information.

While changes happen all around us on a daily basis and often affect our lives in some way, many have neglected to notice them. For instance, were you aware of these recent changes?

• McDonalds is seriously considering a dinner menu, breakfast all day, monthly specials, a $1 bratwurst and home delivery. Development in each of these areas is currently in progress.
• Target, the nation’s second-largest discounter behind Walmart, plans to match prices that customers find on identical products at top online retailers, all the time. That would include Amazon.com, Walmart, Best Buy, and Toys R Us.
• Major League baseball is planning a deal with T-Mobile to create an on-field communication system connecting managers in dugouts to coaches in bullpens, which should have replaced the very antiquated phone system long ago.
• Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, recently opened its first retail store — dubbed Evolution Fresh — focused not on selling coffee but on premium juices and vegan and veggie dishes. Starbucks bought Evolution Fresh, Inc. for $30 million! It is also enhancing its loyalty-rewards program, adding an interactive web site for customer input, adding drive-thru windows and to-go meals for breakfast and lunch. Starbucks is now selling its products off grocery shelves and recently developed a “short” $1 coffee offering as well as a new $7 cup of brew.

As you can plainly see, change favors no particular industry, organization, product or service. Change is happening faster and more often than ever before and shows no signs of letting up.

Everyone in your organization must be open and eager to embrace constant change if you are to compete in today’s chaotic business environment. A knowledgeable and well-trained staff is a key ingredient in your future success.

You can bet your competition is aware of this fact as well and may very well be taking the necessary action to insure their success. Can you say the same?

Contact Dr. Jeff Drake at 1-800-886-2629 for more information on our “Productive Chaos” change program. Make certain you’re prepared to “Ride the Wave of Change”!

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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It wasn’t that many decades ago that Sears was the undisputed retail leader in the U.S. Kmart, known for its “blue light specials,” was #2, operating under such namesakes as S.S. Kresge, Jupiter Stores, The Sports Authority, Builders Square and Waldenbooks.

Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney constantly battled for the #3 and #4 spots in the top ten.

Sears and Kmart have since joined forces, and both are struggling to meet expectations. Major change appears to be their only salvation. Montgomery Ward waited too long to initiate change and was forced to close its doors in 2000 after 128 years of service.

Today, J.C. Penney dominates headlines as it offers more confusing changes than politicians make promises. However, change for the sake of change is seldom, if ever, the solution to growing losses, plummeting sales, elite competition and fickle customers.

J.C. Penney has been changing everything from its merchandise and stores to its top leadership. CEO Ron Johnson, the former Apple executive who came on board a year ago, rolled out a new pricing plan in February 2012. Both vendors and customers were confused by the new pricing policy, and apparently all have suffered as a result of a 70% plunge in store sales. There is no shortage of competitors to make up that shortfall. Critics are questioning whether the chain will ever regain its footing.

The pricing strategy change appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. You might consider keeping an eye on your local J.C. Penney store in the coming months to witness a desperate attempt to bring J.C. Penney back to its former glory days.

It has already attempted an offer of free haircuts as children prepared to return to school in September. That was a nice touch but certainly tame compared to what lies ahead. Look for the these changes in the near future:

• For the month of November, J.C. Penney is offering free photo sessions: free sittings, free 8×10, and free digital copy and greeting cards for 50 Cents each.
• J.C. Penney ditched hundreds of coupons, discounts and annual sales in favor of everyday low pricing even though this move has clearly been a failure thus far.
• It plans to add 100 mini-shops with various designers inside 700 of its 1,100 stores by late 2014.
• Surrounding those shops will be 15-foot-wide aisles called “streets.” Along those pathways will be couches, ice cream and coffee bars, and wood tables with built-in iPad tablet computers shoppers can use. CEO Johnson calls these “places to engage.” In the middle of it all, a Town Square will offer seasonal merchandise and activities like yoga and Pilates classes.
• In the near future, you may very well find it next to impossible to find a cash register or check out kiosk anywhere in a J.C. Penney store. It plans to incorporate RFID chips into every product in the store. This will allow any and all transactions to be performed anywhere, anytime, and by any employee in the store using devices like Apple’s iPhone or iPod. Personally, I’m not certain I’m comfortable with that. I wonder where they’ll keep the bags?

CEO Johnson said, “We are here to transform J.C. Penney, not to improve J.C. Penney. It will be just like an Apple store.” He went on to say that he plans to basically create a mall within a mall, with J.C. Penney’s 100 specialty shops.

This is just my personal opinion, but I truly get the feeling that J.C. Penney is simply grasping for straws at this point. While change is a wonderful, and often necessary strategy, it’s not always the “end all” for dealing with the many challenges we face in today’s chaotic world.

In this case, the radical strategies J.C. Penney has in mind may very well take it down the path that led to the demise of Montgomery Ward.

I would suggest that you embrace change wholeheartedly but do so with caution, research, benchmarking, and a well-planned strategy.

At the moment, I struggle to visualize a successful new J.C. Penney … a department store/Apple store/Starbuck’s/Pilates studio/juice bar/mall. We’ll see.

About Harry K. Jones

Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.

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