Career Success vs. Career Failure: The Cautionary Tale of Ron Johnson

Many people wish for greatness; Larry Bird worked for it until he achieved it, particularly in basketball. Basketball has always been a fast-paced, exciting game to watch. The sport has even been nationally televised for decades. The game has gained special popularity because of its superstars. National Basketball Association (NBA) superstars are recognized by many as the most recognizable pro athletes. Larry Bird was one of the most famous stars of the league, and his popularity greatly increased the publics’ interest in the league. Larry Bird’s fame and basketball success was brought about by his hard work and competitiveness.

I would like to be a basketball manager and I think I would make a good one because of my good attitude and my ability to adapt. Throughout my life I have always loved the sport basketball, however I wasn’t the best at playing it. Therefore, being a basketball manager would be fun for me because I would get to learn a lot about the sport itself and also the managing aspects of it. I would also like to be a manager because it would give me something to do and be a part of after school. Lastly, I would like to be a manager because it would be a fun activity to do and I could talk to my friends as the other managers and as the players on the team.

Walt Disney was fired because his editor felt that he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school basketball team when he was a sophomore. Thomas Edison’s teachers told him that he was “too stupid to learn anything.” Failure and rejection happens to everyone, even the most famous of people. It can be heartbreaking. But before you go to your room and stain your pillows with tears, remember that it will not ruin your life.

In the retail industry, it is hard for a business to abandon all its previous strategies, such as locations and advertising strategies to make a fresh start. However, that is precisely what JCPenney and has been able to accomplish numerous times. Founded over a hundred years ago, the firm has undergone mass renovations with each change in leadership. Moreover, recently, JCPenney, has been reinvented once more, under the leadership of President Michael Francis and CEO Ron Johnson.

Vincent "Bo" Jackson was born on November 30, 1962, in Bessemer Alabama. He was a multitalented athlete growing up, excelling in baseball, football, and even track and field. Bo Jackson had many accomplishments throughout his life. Before he graduated from high school, Jackson was recruited to play Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, but declined the offer to attend Auburn University. While attending Auburn University, Jackson managed to become the Sugar Bowl champion and Football MVP. He also qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in track and field and led his baseball team to victory on many different occasions.

CEO Johnson’s time with JC Penney’s was short lived and only lasted 17 months. The three core processes of business that he ignored was People, Strategy, and Operations. From the people aspect, he missed several key details. Johnson just assumed that people thought JC Penney’s prices were too high, so he lowered them and quit having sells (Tuttle, 2013). He also drove customers that had been shopping there for years away. With too many changes happening at one time, loyal customers did not agree with the changes and started shopping elsewhere.

Calvin Johnson is a very interesting person because he had a very successful football career with 731 receptions, 11,619 receiving yards, and 83 touchdowns.

In January 2012, newly appointed CEO, Ron Johnson introduced a plan to rebrand the department store chain into a 21st century retail powerhouse. Launching of the new J. C. Penney brand identity was set to occur over four years and would include a new logo, a new in-store experience featuring new and transformed brands, and most importantly, it would change the way that the company priced merchandise. Unfortunately, J. C. Penney suffered a 25% sales decline in the first year and Johnson was fired after only 17 months.

In its first quarter in 2012, the company 's profits lost $163 million dollars, sales skidded to 20%, and traffic to its stores decreased by 10% (Zmuda, 2012). By the end of 2012, the company net sales decreased by more than five million dollars compared to 2011 prior to Johnson 's appointment. Unfortunately for Johnson, his confusing pricing strategy did not catch on with loyal JCP shoppers. In addition, Johnson was stubborn and did not believe in conducting research with his new marketing strategy at a few select stores before he rolled it out to

Ellison has nearly 30 years of experience in the retail industry. For the past several years he worked for Home Depot as the executive vice president of U.S. stores. He was also president of the northern Division at Home Depot, worked as senior vice president of global logistics through out the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and more then 35 other countries. Before joining Home depot, he spent 15 years at Target with a variety of operational roles. His predecessor Mr. Ullman said, “It is a great pleasure to welcome Marvin Ellison to JCPenney. Over the course of his career, he has proven his ability to produce results by improving operations, building customer loyalty, and motivating his teams…” (IRJCPENNEY) Thomas J. Engibous, Chairman of JCPenney’s Board of Directors, added “He brings to the role, amount other assets, an extensive knowledge of store operations and supply chain management as well as a demonstrated ability to successfully run large retail organization. In light of these attributes, we believe he is well equipped to return the Company to profitably growth. (IRJCPENNEY) While 2014 ended with $11.86 billion in sales/revenue, down 8.67% from the previous year, year to date in 2015, JCPenney is operating at $12.26 billion. This is a 3.36% increase. (Marketwatch) It is not much but reinforces the benefit of a change in power. No faulty strategy or execution

Name one thing that brings an entire city, state, or country together. Sports. Of any kind. It really is a huge part of human society without you even realizing it. Athletics are as important to a child’s life as a tractor is to a farmer. Especially for young adults in high school. Either in going to the games, or playing in them. Athletics play an influential part in my life because it brings responsibility, and prepares me for the real world.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. was born on August 14, 1959 in Lansing, Michigan. This is such a significant day in the history of basketball, because it is the day that arguably the greatest point guard in the history of basketball was born. He changed the game of basketball since he was so dominant with this big size and his amazing passes that would set up his teammates so efficiently. He is one of the greatest basketball players to play basketball and has set the most unbreakable records.

Success as a college football player is very different from success in the NFL. Many players who had promising careers in the NCAA went on to flop in the NFL. The following is a list of some players who did not do well as professional football players.

JC Penney had to undergo and withstand several competitive issues to include changing of brand image, selling strategy and marketing strategy. JC Penney also had to account for Environmental Factors to include: a population that continued to age and also unemployment rates. JC Penney tried to influence customers by portraying an everlasting sale. No matter how hard JC Penney tried to market their products, if people didn’t

When it comes to wanting a career in sports, there are multiple professions and paths that lead to your destination. However, of all the options, you better expect to work hard while keeping an open mind if you want to succeed in reaching your goal.