The No Normal® Newsletter – Issue #2 February 2026
WHAT’S HAPPENED…
The facts, just the facts, on decline
In 1990 the US represented 26% of global domestic product. Today, after the “threats” of the Chinese economy, the US is at about the same percentage. Technology, communication, medicine, finance, and other realms still power the US as the “go-to” country in the world.At the end of the “Cold War” and with the dissolution of the old Russian Socialist Republics, our allies in the UK, France, Canada, Italy, and Japan accounted for 22% of the world’s economy, combined. Today that number is about 15%. Five years ago our states of Alabama and Arkansas had surpassed every one of those countries in per capita income.A little perspective can go a long way.
Alan’s Advice: Read the Wall Street Journal daily and some non-partisan financial publications whenever you can. If you’re younger, read history to create better perspective. If you’re older, use your experiences to temper all those people yelling, “The sky is falling!” Chicken Little could probably win an election today.
WHAT’S HAPPENING…
The Schism
Once upon a time, we all were listening, seeing, and participating in common events. Music for parents and children was basically the same until the rock era of the 50s-60s. People of highly diverse backgrounds and political views watched the relatively (compared to today) few offerings on TV: The Twilight Zone, I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, MASH.
We chose common amusements (Sink the Bismark, Johnny Carson, Miniature Golf), and could enjoy or debate common experiences and circumstances.
Today these choices, in our politics and society, are highly polarized. Most people try to avoid political or religious conversations unless they are good friends and/or know the other person shares common views. Political debate is barred in some workplaces, and social media are full of vendettas and defamation of others who simply don’t agree about a hobby, or a vacation spot, or a food choice. A special interest group about model trains was closed by the administrators because of political, rancorous, name-calling among members.
Alan’s Advice: Experiment with experiences and adventures outside of your comfort zones (which are probably much narrower than they once were). Listen to people without judging them, hear opinions without contesting them. Stop assuming that people who happen to disagree with you are somehow morally inferior and hopeless, and stop using derogatory terms to describe them. If you need help starting on common ground, think about death and taxes….
WHAT’S COMING…
The unrecognizable workplace and disposable org chart
Workplace performance and its measurement have been a rather unscientific and imprecise venture ever since Frederick Winslow Taylor’s Scientific Management failed in the early 20th Century because he couldn’t figure out how to compensate for fatigue.
Now, or at least soon, technology will help us measure when sales people do their best work and arrange work requirements around optimal conditions and most sensitive times. I don’t know about you, but I work at my peak when I’m happy, focused, and “in the mood.”
Since population is declining in many places (including China) vocational schools will proliferate, focused on skills and competence, and not seminars and credentials. We need tradespeople and artisans.
Middle management will attenuate as leaders direct and assign talent directly. The “middle man” functions that might still exist will be handled by AI, which will be the high tech to the leaders’ high touch. Transient workers will proliferate, carrying their benefits packages on their backs like turtles’ shells, and talent “wranglers” will attract and manage them by the project, not for life.
And finally, management, like my consulting career, will become generalist, not specialist, with a nimbleness, resilience, and agility to be effective in continually disruptive and volatile times. The last thing we’ll need are traditional managers growing roots in offices, fertilized by retirement plans.
Alan’s Advice: Don’t pursue a “job” or a “career,” pursue a “calling.” What is the ideal synergy of your talents, market needs (or needs you can create), and your passions? Determine to what degree you seek security while sacrificing some independence, versus maximum freedom sacrificing safety. Expand your interests and your skills so that you are appealing to a broad spectrum of opportunities. Ask yourself if you can discuss most topics intelligently with most people.
Pre-publication Offer for My New Books with Great Bonuses! One Month Left!
Combined Seven-Figure Consultant and Getting Stated in Consulting V Book Purchase Bonus Offers
Total of books, one title or combined titles:
5 books: Free 45-minute Zoom workshop in March on establishing value with buyers (worth: $450); 10 books: Free hour of personalized coaching with Alan ($2,500); 25 books: Free Den Sessions with Alan, eight, 30-minute Zoom meetings over two months ($4,500: https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/the-den/); 50 books: Free seat in either virtual Million Dollar Consulting® College or Sentient Strategy® certification ($12,000); 100 books : Dinner with Alan at his home and three hours of coaching the following morning for you alone or you with a guest ($15,000)
To qualify for bonuses: You must use one of the advance publishing options below and send proof to Alan ([email protected]) in the form of your receipt. This offer is good until February 10, 2026. Once made, there are no returns or cancellations. The bonuses will be fulfilled at mutually-convenient dates and times.
Pre-order sources: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. Bulk orders: Porchlight Books
2026 Zoom Workshops
January 6 Maximizing the coaching/advisory dynamic
February 3 Maximizing speaking spin-off business
March 3 Role-playing tough conversations
April 7 Maximizing workshop effectiveness spin-off
May 5 Maximizing current events potential
June 9 Role-playing tougher conversations
July 7 Maximizing low project labor practices
August 13 Maximizing panels—participant/moderator
September 8 Role-playing toughest conversations
October 6 Maximizing publishing potential
November 2 Maximizing lifestyle potential
December 8 Maximizing 2027 personally and professionally
All sessions are approximately 90 minutes beginning at 10:30 US eastern time. These sessions are $450 each, or the entire year for $5,000. Add three months of weekly 30-minute coaching for $2,500, a total of $7,500. (My cards are accepted for the full-year, and for the full-year and coaching options, not for individual sessions.) All sessions will include video recording, visual photos, and Zoom Companion summary.
Register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/
LONDON
For those of you who read down here, a special offer. I’m planning to be in London in late May offering a 1.5-day program based on my new book The Seven-Figure Consultant (which will be released in February and which I’ll send for free to registrants at that time). The program is about the philosophy, leverage, and opportunity acquisition you need to make seven figures annually and sustain it. It is a brand new offering (it is not “Six Figures to Seven”). If you’re interested: The fee will be $4,500, which includes a reception evening, a light breakfast and lunch. If you register in November the fee is $3,500. Write me at [email protected] or register here: https://alanweiss.com/store/quick-pay/ Read this far? It’s May 18-19. (I’m running a session of May 27-28 for those already making seven figures annually on what options are available to them in the future. Write me if you qualify.)
AI: Alan Intelligence®
My unique AI resource which will direct you to the relevant aspects of my entire body of work to answer your “real time” questions about proposals, value based fees, conceptual agreement, avoiding “ghosting,” and thousands of other issues with text, audio, and video resources, all of which you can download. Please go here to gain lifelong, constantly growing access to my work, including referral to specific pages in my books which you can access online: https://alanweiss.com/ai-alan-intelligence/ If you decide at any time to engage in one of my two elite, personal coaching relationships, I’ll deduct the full fee you’ve paid for this resource.
Million Dollar Consulting® for the World:
I’ve provided 14 modules with videos from me, from your colleagues globally, slides, and text. They include everything from launch to self-esteem, proposals to fees, closing business to creating a brand. No upsells! It’s only $115. What do you think about a 10,000:1 ROI? We have over 500 people from 47 countries. https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com
Million Dollar Consulting® for the World ADVANCED:
The new program contains over 60 videos and has 15 modules focusing on what to do in the buyer’s office, overcoming crises, financial planning, and much, much more. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/advanced-global-learning-program/
Million Dollar Consulting® for the World GRADUATE:
Another 12 modules with videos by me and your peers on contemporary issues such as Raising Fees Aggressively, How to Be Consistently Interviewed, Maximizing Happiness, and Managing Multiple projects. Join the people from 57 countries who are availing themselves of this inexpensive way to dramatically grow their businesses in any economic times. How does 100:1 ROI sound? https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com/graduate-learning-program/
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