When you look at the current crisis, the biggest concern is the sheer uncertainty of how long it\u2019s going to last and what the long term impact on business will be. You\u2019ll be hearing scenarios for all sorts of lengths, but the reality is, no one knows. Not even the greatest epidemiologists in the world have a crystal clear idea about the pandemic\u2019s estimated duration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
In both his recent Facebook Live sessions and Phorest FM Episode 158<\/a>, Ronan Perceval reflected on the parallel that can be made between the crisis we\u2019re all experiencing and the Stockdale Paradox, a concept popularised in the best-selling business book Good to Great<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Stockdale paradox, or the idea that confronting reality \u2014 balancing optimism and pragmatism \u2014 is vital to success, was named after Admiral James Stockdale, who was awarded the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. One of the most decorated United States Navy officers, he was made a prisoner of war from 1965 to 1973, along with many others. During this time, Stockdale was tortured over 20 times and had no release date, let alone any prisoner\u2019s rights. While he survived, many of his optimistic “we\u2019ll be out of here by Christmas”<\/em> co-prisoners didn\u2019t. In retrospect, Stockdale attributed his survival to his way of thinking: pragmatic, without ever losing faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can hear Ronan, CEO of Phorest Salon Software, tell James Stockdale\u2019s story at the very beginning of Phorest FM Episode 158:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe courage to continue and confront the reality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n