Grounded: How Leaders Stay Rooted in an Uncertain World

CHAPTER 9

Resilience

Imagine yourself the co-owner of a small family business that's been flourishing for more than thirty years, with sales steadily rising despite developing markets and setbacks from competitors. The early days were challenging, and adding to your struggles was a reluctant marketplace: it needed education and persuasion to change lifestyle habits before it would commit to your product.

Now you feel that the hard times are behind you. Your company has received widespread recognition and acclaim for its products, you have a growing network of vendor relationships, and you have managed to soothe regulators. Just as your business is about to take off, you learn that a privately held energy company with more than fifty thousand ...