NOTE: This Evergreen Journal article is adapted from General Stanley McChrystal’s presentation at the inaugural Tugboat Institute Gathering of Teams in February 2020. General McChrystal’s message of adaptability and innovation in the face of challenge is inspiring, and we feel it is especially relevant in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Nine-and-a-half years ago, when I left the military, I started a company, McChrystal Group. I had no investors (I still don’t) and no business plan. Today, we’ve grown to about 100 people. It hasn’t been an easy road. As Evergreen® business leaders know, building a business can be tough. There are times when you find yourself hanging on by your fingertips. When that has happened along the way, people have asked me, “Why don’t you just sell it?” My answer: My purpose is my people. That’s what I’m about; that’s what keeps me interested.