Atlas Shrugged

11 days ago

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The author reflects on reading Ayn Rand's 'The Fountainhead' and the evocative title of 'Atlas Shrugged', symbolizing a colossus giving up under strain.
Joined Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1993, witnessing its peak as a Fortune 25 company with strong growth across test & measurement, computing, and printing divisions.
HP's culture, known as the 'HP Way', was seen as progressive and well-managed, fostering innovation and employee satisfaction.
In 1997, a consulting firm advised HP to prepare for slower growth, leading to a shift in mindset from aggressive growth to risk aversion.
This change in attitude marked the beginning of HP's decline, with business leaders losing their drive to aggressively pursue opportunities.
Major changes followed, including the spin-off of Agilent Technologies, leadership changes, and the controversial HP-Compaq merger under Carly Fiorina.
Subsequent CEOs like Mark Hurd and Leo Apotheker further impacted HP negatively, with layoffs and failed acquisitions like Autonomy.
The company eventually split into HP Inc. and HPE in 2015, marking the end of an era.
The key takeaway is the importance of maintaining a positive, winning mindset; self-doubt can initiate failure even before external factors come into play.
Playing to win boosts morale and motivation, increasing the chances of success, whereas playing not to lose leads to caution and missed opportunities.

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