I love this quote:

“Tell me a brilliant idea, the innovations to move an organization – a community of people – forward that spring from panic and fear?” – Jerry Colona

The facts of the coming economic slowdown are unavoidable, but how you choose to use the next two years to shape your company and yourself is a choice.

Crucibles break rocks and polish diamonds.

Several legendary companies have arisen during times like these, polished like diamonds, by the crucibles of consumer drawback, capital constraints, disciplined spend, and urgent drives to product-market fit. It’s challenging. Everything will take longer.

If you’re building a company, the Sequoia and YC notes on the discipline required to last through the next two years is required reading. Read those as table stakes. Be disciplined, or your company will likely not survive.

Be athletic.

Use this time to create the kind of organizational athleticism that will allow your company to thrive, or even become a legend. This is where culture can be your wind-under-wings or your ball-and-chain. Most leaders will put culture to the side as “non-essential” missing that culture is often the element that makes the difference. Now is the time to integrate growth practices that help your people maintain the curiosity to innovate and the discipline to survive at the same time.

Work the Triangle.

Here’s an example of an organizational growth triangle:
1) Paradigm Shifting – Breathwork or Nature combined with a perspective shift so that your people can see this challenging time as bootcamp for a larger vision
2) Capacity Building – HRV training to reduce stress and increase team connection
3) Pattern Breaking – 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership to bring on high-velocity problem-solving at the root cause of interpersonal issues

But I’d argue, if you truly want greatness, you can go further than this – to the source.

You.

Use this time to do your work.

“When you use your position, power and the agency of a company, when you unconsciously bend colleagues, friends, and family to serve your hunger for love, safety, and a sense of belonging – you stand in the way of finding a mission that unites everyone in the first place.” – Jerry Colona

Over the next two years, you can come from fear – and practice the required discipline with a tight gut, running yourself and your team from fear, panic, adrenaline, and cortisol alone.

Or you can learn how to come from love – and plan, layoff, merge, or pivot from a place that unlocks you and your team’s ability to find the optimal path.

You can use the next two years to become the kind of leader you have dreamt you can be.

In my next post, I’ll discuss this more.

Love,
Nichol