Glenn Abell’s Post

Something happened to me when we said goodbye to my oldest son for 2 years. I was apprehensive to share this but if it helps one person it will be worth it. And this is solely my experience but the principle is universal. At any point during the preparation and even up until saying goodbye I could have said, “Don’t go. Stay home. I’m going to miss you too much.” But I never did because that would have been selfish and self serving. He had decided to go serve the people of Brazil, learn Portuguese, and do extremely hard and scary things for 2 years. He will be changed forever through this experience. And so will I. This kind of change can only happen by doing very hard things. There is no short cut or readers digest version. If you want to become something more than you currently are. If you want to earn a place on stage. If you want to get in better shape. If you want to start a business. If you want anything. You have to do uncomfortable and hard things. As you do hard things over time it becomes easier. Not because that hard thing is necessarily easier. It’s because you have done it before and have the confidence you can do it again and again and again. Nike said it best. Just Do It. Over and over again. Embrace the hard. #momentum #hardthings #work

I worked at Nike I worked at eBay I worked at AT&T I worked at Ramsey And you wanna know something? They’re all the same. Different, but the same. They have their own personality and culture, but at the end of the day, they’re all groups of people just trying to make something happen. They’re all concerned with what the competition is doing. They all deal with the same struggles that come with trying to get hundreds or thousands of people moving in the same direction. They’re all filled with people trying to navigate the internal systems and processes, and live by (or redefine) the company’s spoken and unspoken rules. But you know what? They’re also all places where people can thrive… if they choose to. The people who thrived at each of these organizations were those who had strong agency, believed in the company’s mission, and were willing to lean into their role, and reached beyond their role. They were the people who brought their best every day and felt like they were part of something bigger than themselves. The people who look forward to Mondays are the people who view the problems at their organization as something to be faced head on. They’re people on a mission. It’s not the quiet quitters. It’s not the people looking for work-life balance. It’s the people who embrace being fully present at work and fully present at home. The people who bring their entire selves to work, and hold fast to their integrity. They’re the people who build up their teammates, don’t care who gets the credit, and just want to leave the place in a better state than they found it. These are my people. These are the people I want to connect with, spend time with, encourage, teach, and learn from. These are the people I want to walk alongside. Here’s to all the hard working, growth minded, ideal team players out there who haven’t given up on the idea that work can be rich and fulfilling. Here’s to you, thriving at work!

I have been trying to process the recent layoffs at Nike for a few days now. It has been an emotional rollercoaster, and I am sure my colleagues who were also affected can attest to that. My journey to work at Nike was long and challenging, and I had to work hard to get there. I started with a contract position on a team for three months, covering for someone on maternity leave during the COVID crisis. Learning a new role and system in such a short period was stressful, but I was more than ready for the challenge. I knew that it was a temporary position, so I worked hard to learn as much as I could and make a positive impact. My goal was to secure a position on another team, which I eventually did - the Global Innovation Finance Team. However, that was also a contract position, so I kept working hard and learning as much as possible to prove my worth and secure a full-time position. I worked hard to secure a full-time position at Nike while also pursuing a project management degree to improve my skills and support my family. After a year of dedicated efforts, I succeeded in landing a role as a Financial Analyst with the same finance team. Along the way, I formed meaningful relationships and made friends that I hope to keep for years to come. Working at Nike has always been a dream and goal of mine, and I was fortunate enough to achieve it for a while. Although I wish I could continue to grow and advance, that is unfortunately not possible at this time. On Monday, I received an email from the VP, and I felt it wasn't good news. I had been a full-time employee for just under a year, and unfortunately, I was affected by the layoffs. Although I knew this was a possibility, I didn't expect to receive the email. It has been difficult to accept that this doesn't reflect my abilities or worth, but I'm only human, and it's natural to feel this way. I have questioned myself and wondered if I could have done something differently to avoid this situation. Maybe if I were better I wouldn't have been let go. I have felt like I failed my family; however, I know this is just how it is, and it's not personal. I’ve fought back the tears after receiving the news. Going through the exit packet is painful because it means involuntarily closing the book on this part of the story. I won't give up as doors will open, and I will land on my feet as I always do. I work hard and will continue striving to improve and sharpen my skills. My friends and family have been incredibly supportive this week, and I greatly appreciate it. My two little girls bring me so much joy, and they remind me why I work so hard. They are just the cutest. My wife has been solid for me, and I am thankful to have them all in my life. I am thankful for the opportunity to work at Nike. I look forward to what happens next. I hope everyone impacted has support and can enjoy the weekend. Never give up, and always strive to make the next day better than the last.

Guess what happened today that totally blew my mind? So, I was just going about my business at work when I turned around to help a customer, and guess who it was? Jessica from my White House | Black Market days! Talk about a blast from the past! It was such a pleasant surprise to see her, and as we caught up, it got me thinking about our time at WHBM. You know, it struck me that a lot of people know how much I love visuals, and Jessica played a huge role in igniting that passion in me. She was the one who really introduced me to the whole visual space thing. Thanks to her influence, I was able to make a smooth transition from working on visuals at WHBM to doing the same at Victoria’s Secret, all while excelling in sales. And let's not forget my stint as the Merchandise Team Leader at Aerie before landing the gig as Store Manager. Jessica was like the spark that set off this whole exciting journey of exploring how far I could take my merchandising skills and sales prowess. It's funny how these little chance encounters can make you reflect on how far you've come, right? It's moments like these that make me appreciate the journey and the people who have been a part of it. Who would've thought a regular day at work could turn into a trip down memory lane and a reminder of the impact someone can have on your life and career? 💚 #AerieReal #Growth

If you were one of the thousands laid off by Nike recently, I just want to acknowledge how hard it is. A modern layoff is a blunt and inarticulate thing.  Especially if you’ve dedicated the bulk of your career to a company, a lay off provides a cruel punctuation to a profoundly successful career. Where is the gratitude and respect we know we’ve earned? Where’s the celebration? Back in 2009 I was let go by Nike, alongside hundreds of colleagues. I’m so grateful for the fellowship I found with those people in the months that followed. I encourage you to connect with others in the same boat, as well as the 6453 ALUMNI network. Despite the circumstances, you still deserve to acknowledge your accomplishments and celebrate your hard work. On that same day that I was let go, thousands of other friends were not. Understand that this is hard for them as well, so resist the urge to avoid them, or feel awkward in reaching out. More of my Nike friendships would have survived if I’d been less aloof in those months after leaving.  The best companies make you feel like you are part of something special, and they ask you to live that mission for all the world to see. How cruel it is when one day you find a 15 minute meeting titled “Organizational Announcement” on your calendar, and…pffft, like a lit match being dropped in the water, your commitment and passion are instantly doused. It’s very, very painful, and perfectly normal to feel angry and rudderless. When I got laid off I took to smoking cigarettes and attending movie screenings...before lunch. 😐. My kids were in Nike daycare, so they got laid off too. It was rough. I wish someone had counseled me to make this unfortunate event a positive inflection point, a moment to pursue a dream, realize a shift, take a step up or a step back. Consider, it’s very hard to leave a job of your own volition. (Especially a job at Nike.) David Letterman once said something like, “I always knew that when the job ceased to bring me joy, when I felt it lacked any real meaning, that ten years later I would quit.” So maybe find a way to look at this as an opportunity; take that severance package and consider these next few months an investment in realizing the next best version of you. It may be too soon to hear it, but this can truly be a rare and amazing chance to do something great. 6453 ALUMNI Nike #layoffs

In the last 6 months I have: - worked with Nike, Asics, Lego, Barclays, Meta - received backing from the government and Innovate UK - helped 4000+ people think, feel & perform like the top 1% - delivered over 240 visualisation experiences - hired my first intern BUT I have also: - thought about quitting and getting a full time job - been rejected more times than I can count - felt stuck, annoyed & frustrated - lost important deals - pivoted 6 times It’s easy to only focus on the ‘successful’ aspects but that’s not reality There’s going to be highs and lows but the key is to keep moving I’m learning from the successes I’m learning from the losses That’s what makes building a business fun right? 😅 P.s If you want to join 70 others at 'Mental fitness Live' this month, get your ticket now!! Only a few left (in comments)

Most important lesson I learned in my first two weeks as an intern at adidas: When it comes to progress in your job, optimal, efficient and high expectations are silent killers if not managed well, as they did for a bit in my case. For more context, I am an incredibly high achiever, which worked well in 90% of cases. To be successful with high goals, you need processes and habits that flourish your energy, learning and work so you can focus on what is essential. Switching to a 9-5 was an exciting experience that forced me to adapt my processes to a new environment. However, I hurried a bit. Trying to be optimal, efficient and learn everything ASAP to prove valuable fast was about to be my failure in this case. Instead of learning the ins and outs slowly and surely, I tried my optimal route in an environment in which I was not familiar and with a huge learning curve (almost 75 years of history behind Adidas, I definitely can't learn it in two weeks). I made significant progress but missed some important "whys" and "hows". In a multinational company where teamwork is more than essential, those are non-negotiable. Unlike me, take your time. Walk slowly and observe the details of the environment, especially when you are unsure and it's something totally new. Slow and consistent progress, in this case, is better than efficiency and optimal when you don't even know what has to be efficient and optimal. Observe more than you think is needed, then choose the right way for the specific situation. Don't just go for the path you're used to, even if it yielded the best results until now. Make a habit to always remember to observe. P.S. Props to adidas and my team for providing the environment and making it as smooth as possible; it was a great experience.

New starter announcement! 👋 We’re really proud to welcome Aimee T. to the team, helping unite her two passions – retail and technology. “I’ve been in the beauty and luxury industry my entire career. At COTY (owners of Burberry, Gucci, BOSS etc), I've worked closely with biggest brands and department stores in the industry and seen first-hand the eCommerce challenges they all experience. 📉 Volatile conversion rates 😢 Inconsistent customer journeys and branding 🐌 Difficulty getting new Product Display Pages (PDPs) live 😵💫 A sea of information, but little clarity on what to do where When I saw exactly how Ocula Boost works, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the team because it could revolutionise eCommerce teams for retailers and brands. The combination of saving time, improving the customer journey and prioritising the biggest areas for improvement make it so much easier for teams to increase their conversion rate, and give customers the brand journey they deserve.” Welcome to the team Aimee! 🚀

What if you could make work optional in your 50’s and retire at the end of your Nike career? It may be possible with the right planning, discipline, and partner to hold you accountable. Check out our recent blog from Advisor Kendall Acheson, CFP®, CPWA® with his three-step guide to turning the dream into reality. https://lnkd.in/g_7YW84x

What other legacy families come to mind for you? From humble beginnings to household names, legacy families shape entire industries with their remarkable stories. The Waltons and the Fords are just the beginning of a very long list of family businesses that have made history. Walton Family >> Walmart Inc. Ford Family>>> Ford Motor Company Dell Family>>>Dell Technologies Knight Family>>> Nike If you would like to learn more about legacy building and family businesses, follow us or join the Roots & Legacy Newsletter to get the content directly sent to you! #LegacyFamilies #LegacyBuilding #FamilyBusinesses