The Law of Cosmetic Change – Fresh paint. Same rot.
John once helped launch a rebranding.
The Visionary called it “a cultural reset.” The Diplomat said, “This time feels different.” The Strategist presented a deck titled “Transformation Through Intentional Evolution.”
There were new values. New mission statement. New core principles printed on foam boards in the lobby.
John helped write the implementation guide. Forty-three pages. Six workstreams. Twelve subcommittees.
By next quarter, the town halls had stopped mentioning it.
By the quarter after, only the logo remained.
From The Footnote Archives
- A department was renamed to symbolize “renewal.” The org chart remained untouched.
- The new process borrowed its checklist from the old one.
- Leadership called it “transformation.” The team called it déjà vu.
- Posters changed; behaviours didn’t.
Johnny could not ignore the irony:
Surface renewal is the system’s favourite disguise.
#NaturalLawsOfBullshit #CosmeticChange #ChangeDrama
Johnny’s Footnotes is a satirical instrument, infused with humour, for understanding organisational dysfunction, grounded in The Anatomy of Nonsense, also known as the Grand Unified Theory of Bullshit, finally documented so you no longer have to pretend it isn’t happening.
Meet John’s Colleagues. They are here (& almost everywhere).
Disclaimer: The Footnote is a satire — an observation, not an accusation. If it feels uncomfortably accurate, that’s just coincidence. You’re simply not important enough to be targeted.
