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Welcome back to the Launch Key 🚀

1 year ago this week we closed on a new home in a new town 3+ hours away from where I’d spent the last 39 years. And it was cathartic.

Proactive change can be like that.

Forced change can be chaotic. But it can also lead to unforeseen heights.

Let's get into it.

• Gmail users may wish to read online since some parts may be clipped.

• Comment below and let me know if we’re on the right track.

Table of Contents

• Pull to Eject

• Modern Tools

• Old School Wisdom

• Free Knowledge

• Recommendations

• Visual Crapshoot

Pull to Eject

Change is hard for humans.

Whether it’s work or relationships or moving – we are all creatures of habit. It’s easier to stay the course. Even when the writing is on the wall.

Blockbuster might just be the textbook corporate example of not changing with the market.

At their peak they had 84,000+ employees, 9,000+ retail stores and a market lead that could have springboarded them ahead in digital. But leadership measured the wrong things (like sales per square foot) and let Redbox, then Netflix and streaming totally destroy their dominant consumer lead. Someone with a sense of humor has “working on rewinding your movie” on the dead domain today.

How do we handle change we didn’t see coming?

Like you, I’ve had plenty of change foisted on me. And none of it presented an easy transition.

• You spend a month on an RFP only to be ghosted by the client

• Key employees give their notice in the middle of a big project

• Your flight gets cancelled on the way to a big pitch

• A client delays payment of an invoice

• Mergers, acquisitions or bankruptcy of clients

• Your main client contact loses their job

• You can’t make payroll without tapping your home equity

• You get fired

• All of the above

Like my golf game, scrambling can go either way.

We’re all just trying to solve problems with the available information. But, having the right attitude about it is key. Quickly assess the damage. Revise your plan based on this new data. Carry on.

Bruce Greenwood gave an epic monologue in the Fall of the House of Usher on what to do when life gives you lemons.

Suing the farmers for copyright infringement is definitely a bridge too far. But marketers will tell you this fictional account is pretty damn accurate. There is nothing scarier than toxins.

I’ve written about change in a few Launch Keys.

There are things outside of your control.

You’re going to lose some sales. You may get caught by a downsize. Employees will leave. You could be bypassed for a promotion. You might not see the buyout coming. Bankruptcy is definitely possible.

What do you do next? It’s the message I tried to live in front of my boys when I coached youth sports.

Solve the problem in the mirror first. How do you handle change?

Start with the things you can work on. Problem solve today. Stack small stuff until you have larger piles. Leverage your experience to create something unique. Think Differently.

And create your own #lemon story.

Now go launch something 🚀 

Modern Tools

Chat with and compare 300+ AI models — OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Grok, and more — side‑by‑side in one place. Built for creators, builders, and teams who want faster, clearer answers.

Banish bad ads for good

Your site, your ad choices.

Don’t let intrusive ads ruin the experience for the audience you've worked hard to build.

With Google AdSense, you can ensure only the ads you want appear on your site, making it the strongest and most compelling option.

Don’t just take our word for it. DIY Eule, one of Germany’s largest sewing content creators says, “With Google AdSense, I can customize the placement, amount, and layout of ads on my site.”

Google AdSense gives you full control to customize exactly where you want ads—and where you don't. Use the powerful controls to designate ad-free zones, ensuring a positive user experience.

Take control of your ads

Old School Wisdom

Currently the #1 selling book on Amazon across all categories, Atomic Habits has helped more than 15 million people improve their lives. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results.

No matter your goals, James Clear’s Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving – every day.

Free Knowledge

Ultimately having gratitude for change helps too. Or in the infamous words of Darius Rucker - all that change led me here to This.

Recommendations

🖥️ Startup Marketer Newsletter - Your cheat sheet for marketing news, insights & tips tailored for the startup space.

💼 Thriving Freelance - Gigs and Growth : Hundreds of job opportunities sent directly to your inbox each week, plus timely resources to support you as you grow and evolve.

📕 MGMT Playbook : Practical management insights straight to your inbox every Wednesday.

🗃️ Dealroom Business Success Uncovered : Learn directly from billionaire entrepreneurs on how to grow a business. Join a community of 2,000+ innovators.

🎓️ Daily MBA : Compound Your Knowledge. Join the free Daily MBA community to start receiving daily, 5 minute lessons in Strategy, Finance, Marketing and more.

Visual Crapshoot