The Reinventionist Mindset

Book excerpt: The status quo is the serial killer of great companies. Nothing is immune from the need for change, but when faced with change, most companies do one of three things: double down, endlessly strategize, or "Ostrich." But there's a fourth (and only) option. Reinvent. "Reinventionist" Joe Jackman believes there are very few flagging businesses that cannot be returned to growth and relevance, and for Joe, there is nothing better than taking a once-great brand and returning it to greatness. Jackman learned to love change early, in a home where family meetings actually produced it ("The status quo never stood a chance"). As an industrial designer, he took things apart to see how they worked and how they could be improved. As a corporate executive he gained an insider's view of how not to manage change. Now his unique firm Jackman Reinvents helps companies at a crossroads become reborn as Category of One businesses.