Trend Following With Michael Covel

Chris Zook is co-author of “The Founder’s Mentality: How to Overcome the Predictable Crises of Growth.” The work leading to “the founder’s mentality” started for Chris about 5 years ago. It is predicated on, “What are the deep root causes that allow some companies to stay young, stay energetic, and be sustainable in their performance over time?” Only 1 in 10 companies sustain a modest level of growth over a decade. Chris, and his co-author James Allen, found that when the founder of a company was still evolved and their presence was still looming, companies had about three times higher performance than other companies where the founder had stepped away. Chris elaborates on their research process and the steps he and James took in writing “The Founder’s Mentality”. A deep sense of insurgency, frontline obsession, and an owner’s mindset are the three characteristics that make up the founder’s mentality. Keeping an open mind at all times and willingness to adapt to your company’s growth is key. When companies