Disruption’s Coming. Are You Ready to Lead Through the Chaos?
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” — Sun Tzu
Distribution, Apocalypse, or Opportunity?
Tariffs are dominating headlines these days. Living in a country and working in an industry that could feel the direct impact, I get it, this level of political brinkmanship is enough to cause heartburn.
I’ve already seen companies making huge decisions because the ripple effects of these threats are hitting them hard.
Here’s the thing: disruption is often treated like the apocalypse, the thing that will burn your business to the ground. But the truth? It can also be the match that lights your next big breakthrough.
Disruption isn’t a death sentence
I’ve spent years in a highly regulated industry and faced six major disruptions that felt like the final nail in the coffin each time. People around me either predicted doom or shrugged it off completely. But I realized something: disruption isn’t a death sentence. It’s a dare.
One moment that sticks out from early in my career? New regulations were set to flip the way we communicated products to end consumers. Risky? Absolutely. But we saw a window.
I was tasked with building a B2B education strategy that wouldn’t just help us survive, but rise above the noise. When we launched, competitors were blindsided. We became the industry benchmark. When our company was acquired, that same program became the global standard for B2B engagement.
Lesson learned: When disruption hits, don’t hunker down. Take the offensive. Disruption is your chance to stand out while everyone else is scrambling to catch up.
Taking the Offensive
So how do you do that? Here are action steps to turn disruption into your next big win:
Pinpoint your unfair advantage: What’s something you’re better at than your competitors—and how can you double down on it right now?
Identify the ‘don’t bother’ zones: What’s your competitor’s strength that would cost you too much time and money to match? Skip it and focus on what they can’t do.
Steal (the smart way): What’s something brilliant from another industry that you can borrow, adapt, and make your own?
Check your culture-brand alignment: If your brand promises one thing, but your internal culture doesn’t back it up, disruption will expose that gap fast. Are you aligned?
Act fast. Pivot faster: Agility isn’t just a buzzword, it’s your secret weapon. What’s one bold move you can make before your competitors even see it coming?
Final thoughts
“Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat.” — Steve Jobs
Most companies get stuck in victim mode when disruption strikes. But the faster, more adaptable, and more fearless you are, the better your chances of pulling ahead. Don’t wait for the world to shape you—be the one shaping the game.
So, what’s one thing you’re doing to turn disruption into an opportunity?
Align your brand and culture
At Leadership in Focus, we help B2B companies align their brand with their culture to create marketing messages that actually resonate. We’ve worked with Fortune 500 giants and scrappy startups across industries like CPG, age-restricted products, construction, real estate, legal, HR, manufacturing, and more. Ready to explore how we can help you navigate your next big challenge? Reach out.
P.S. Drop a comment if you’ve turned disruption into opportunity—you might just spark someone’s next big move. 👇
