As we wrapped up what has arguably been one of the most unexpected—to say the least— years in recent history, business leaders across almost every industry are now planning for 2022 with a new set of considerations in mind. Notably, these considerations are centered, among other things, on "mindset"—how much optimism or skepticism they should apply as they make fundamental decisions across all aspects of their businesses including pricing, hiring, expanding/downsizing, marketing, corporate giving, the list goes on. 

Based on my experiences in almost every type of business cycle over the past several decades, I know firsthand that a basic principle generally holds true: our mindset, the lens through which we see the world, determines our ability to perceive opportunities and threats, and as a result, determines our choices and ultimately shapes our destiny. At this moment, as we continue to emerge from the global pandemic, the lens through which we choose to see our business environment and our own businesses is perhaps more relevant than ever. In challenging times like these when emotions can run high and our judgement can get clouded, a clear lens is always critical to making sound decisions.