Invent, Reinvent, Thrive: The Keys to Success for Any Start-Up, Entrepreneur, or Family Business

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Sleeping with the Enemy

WHATEVER THEIR MOTIVES, THE NAYSAYERS OF SCHULTZ, Stemberg, Bridgeman, Krasny, and Clark were their “enemies.” Had the naysayers prevailed, those great entrepreneurs might never have made their businesses the iconic brands they’ve become. There are, however, situations where one should not ignore but instead embrace the naysayers. If that sounds confusing, remember Gil Mandelzis having listened to his employee who told him to abandon his existing business model. Larry Levy ignored an external naysayer until his colleagues convinced him to “sleep with that enemy.”

Larry Levy’s story is at once remarkably different from, yet startlingly similar to that of Gil Mandelzis. For both, the ideas that prompted the reinventions ...