The company disclosed the problems in a series of increasingly worse announcements. The ensuing problems included: SEC and US Attorney fraud prosecutions, extensive litigation, bank debt default, liquidity crisis, reputational damage, lost customers… Bear in mind the business of the company was producing secure products to prevent fraud – making the crisis even more acute with customers, etc.

I rejoined the Company first as President and COO and then as CEO in the midst of the crisis. We saved the company, rebuilt it and sold it a great valuation as a leading supplier of security and authentication technologies.

How did we do it? We found the company’s “Bounce” and focused on it intensely. My most important role was to restore integrity back to the business and then let the true strengths of the company be recognized. As a result of the scandals, we had a spotlight shined on us – and it gave us a great opportunity to build the reliable, trustworthy company that our employees, partners and customers wanted us to be.

I am from Singapore. I just started a company ( a social enterprise ) called Silver Spring, to help people in their half time, through career / life coaching. The tag line for my company is Put the Bounce back in your Life. So when i saw your book last weekend, I could not take my eyes off it. How relevant and aligned with what i am doing! Would love to be part of your mailing list for updates and info. Cheers to More Bounce!

In late 2000, I was an executive with a technology company. There was carnage in the markets and VC portfolios were underwater. We were low on cash and there were few options. We had just laid off a chunk of the team and many who remained were overwhelmed with stress… definitely anxiety #1.

What came to our rescue was a game of pool! By playing pool together late in the day, we started to relax enough as a team that we could see what was really going on in the business. We were able to see things we couldn’t when were at the office collectively pounding our heads into the wall. We got excited about what we could do… anxiety #1 gave way to anxiety #2.

After a few weeks of pool, we had a new plan, a much more cohesive and aligned team, and a new start. All thanks to a game of pool.

My personal experiences working with other top level sales leaders has always been a little dry. Mike from the book reminded me a lot of Jim Lipuma. I think Jim does an outstanding job at taking the anxiety #1 and turns it into anxiety #2. Every time yourself or Jim reaches out to the sales force, it makes me proud to be a part of RDC and makes me want to go to battle (like Big Tony)! Overall, I like how the book has challenged my way of thinking.

( page 165 – special thanks from Keith was pretty cool) !

Thanks so much for sharing your story. Please keep us updated on your progress.

I have now downloaded the audio version of Bounce so that I can listen to do it in the gym and follow Mike’s progress and see how it compares to mine…. I hope that it has a happy ending!