Previously, on Leading Through Chaos: Chaos is hard because we can’t plan for it. Our protection? Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s “barbell strategy”: avoid ruin while finding opportunity. Use “effectuation” to find upside opportunity when planning...
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Leading Through Chaos, part 4: The Leverage Point of Change
Leading Through Chaos: The Leverage for Change What came before: In part 1, we saw that chaos is a problem because it makes prediction hard. A barbell strategy helps us make it through. In part 2 we dealt with risk of ruin, and part 3, covered upside opportunity. I’ve...
Leading Through Chaos, part 3: Seizing Opportunity!
In part 1 we covered the need for predictability. We took Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s advice in part 2 to cover our worst-case scenarios. Reader Shari Aaron asked: My business faces short-term disruption. Client budget approvals are very slow, due to so much uncertainty....
Leading Through Chaos part 2: Don’t Die! (aka Barbells and Risk of Ruin)
I have long planned to buy a new computer in 2026. My current desktop is nearing its end of life, but it still limps along. I’d rather not invest right now; cash is tight, tariffs are high, and my portfolio is down. But supply chain disruptions might mean that prices...
Want to tank your profit margin? Just do a successful merger!
A fable of Maximus Grandeur, CEO of Gaping Maw Co[1]. Think you understand “synergies”? Think again. Most people don’t. Synergies can happen. The boost revenues and profits, but tank profit margin. In fact, math often guarantees it. Here’s an example. In the Beginning...
The Business of a Magician
All businesses share the same underlying foundation: a flow of money in and out. The money in has to cover the costs of the money out. It has to pay for the production of your product or service, and have enough left over to fund growth and expansion for the future....
What do CEOs do? A CEO Job Description
The Chief Executive Officer is one of the most coveted titles, and least understood jobs in a company. Everyone believes that CEOs can do whatever they want, are all powerful, and are magically competent. Nothing could be further from the truth. By its very nature,...
Craft strategy from both inside and outside
The economic playing field has gotten complicated enough that it's foolish to step on the field without some idea of how you're going to win. In sports, you have a playbook, which lists the plays you can make. In business, we call these...
Stever in the BBC on Goal Setting (and why not to set goals)
Check out the new article in BBC Capital about Why We Should All Give Up on Goals Already. The title is a bit sensationalistic, but the article seriously asks when do goals hinder, rather than help, achievement.
President Trump, viewed as a CEO, part 4
President Trump CEO, part 4: Allocating Capital This is part 4 in a series on President Trump viewed through the lens of being a CEO. Part of President Trump’s great appeal is that he’s perceived as a successful businessperson. He’s even been talked about as...