Are You the Storm?
In good times it is harder to distinguish great companies from mediocre companies. It is during turbulent times when the great companies become apparent. The Chinese word for crisis ( 危机 ) consists of two ideograms. The first represents danger, and the second represents opportunity or change point. In difficult times, there is a bifurcation in how companies react. Many pull back and only focus on trying to survive the danger of the storm. The great companies, however, see it as an opportunity and use this time to push forward, invest, and build. It is those companies that will emerge stronger and as the leaders of tomorrow. Having lived through multiple downcycles, I have seen this pattern repeat itself.
This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes.
Fate whispers to the warrior, "You cannot withstand the storm." The warrior replies, "I AM the storm."
Originally published on LinkedIn.