[jluetjen]

I doubt I'd call Circuit City a "success" lately. They've been closing lots of stores. I suspect that in another few years they'll be a shadow of their former selves -- if the company still exists independantly. Much of it I suspect is due to competitive pressures -- companies like Best Buy seem to offer a better buying experience. If Circuit City really was good at what they are doing, they wouldn't be losing this business.

Much of CC's problems I suspect are also structural as electronics continue to get cheaper and cheaper, which means that the buying decision becomes less involved for the shopper. The end result of this is more people buy their HDTV's from stores like Costco and Walmart. Consumers just don't want or need to pay for the sales support when they can walk into a Costco, point at one of 3 or 4 models that they have on the shelf and walk out with a great HDTV for less money.

As far as lay-off's and reorgs go, the older I get the more I appreciate that companies -- like trees -- don't grow to the sky (as a former Controller in my previous company once observed). They all platau, tail-off and eventually die (or get absorbed into a newer company. It's part of life. There are very few which seem to defy this rule for long. It's best that everyone remember that no jobs are forever. And when the going gets tough, I've found that two rules apply:

1) You better be worth more to the company then they are paying you, or YOU WILL BE CUT.

2) Look around you. You better be performing better then at least half of your co-workers, or you are at major risk of being cut.

I'm sorry if it sounds harsh, but that's life.