A Dialogue on Leadership in Uncertain Times – An 8-part Series – Session l

2009 – 2010This is an 8-part series that I wrote, in conjunction with a client,  for the Huffington Post. It tracks a six-month coaching relationship with an executive who had recently lost her job. I have reposted it so that it can be read in consecutive order. Below each entry you will find a link to the Huffpost.

June 6, 2009

Three months ago I was fired from my position as President of a medium-sized company, in an industry that had employed me for 20 years.  When I received this news I left the office completely numb.  How could this have happened to me?  18 months earlier, when I took this position, I realized that the business that I had been charged with was deeply challenged.  The most pressing issue was that this business, the size of a Mini-Cooper, was barreling along with a cash burn rate of a Mac truck.  Our monthly expenses were through the roof, while sales were creeping along.  The business was far from break-even.  On a monthly basis during our board calls, I felt that I might be the one to break, before the business became truly viable.

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