“People always ask me, “What’s the secret to being a successful CEO?” Sadly, there is no secret, but if there is one skill that stands out, it’s the ability to focus and make the best move when there are no good moves.”
By Ben Horowitz in his book The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
Picture this: you're at the helm of a startup, riding the rollercoaster of uncertainty, and suddenly, you hit a bump the size of Everest.
Your best-laid plans have gone awry, your backup plan is on vacation in the Bahamas, and your stress levels are skyrocketing faster than Bitcoin in 2017.
In times like these, you need the focus of a Zen master and the decision-making prowess of a poker champ with a royal flush.
Imagine you're playing a game of corporate chess, and suddenly, your opponent flips the board, sets it on fire, and challenges you to a game of Twister instead.
That's the moment when you channel your inner CEO Jedi.
In real life, this scenario might look something like Elon Musk betting his last dime on SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch, or Steve Jobs doubling down on the iPhone when the world thought he'd lost his marbles.
It's about taking calculated risks when the odds are stacked against you, and emerging victorious against all odds.
So, there you have it, folks.
The not-so-secret secret to CEO success: focus like a laser beam, and when life throws you a curveball, swing for the fences like your business depends on it.
Because, well, it probably does. And if all else fails, just remember: there's always coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.