Introduction: Living in Quake Country

Is This You?

Do you have a boss who’s not the CEO? Do you have direct reports? Does their success depend on you and your success depend on them?

Welcome to The Middle—perhaps the most crucial location in the world of business. The Middle is more often defined by the questions surrounding it than by the value it creates.

On any day of the week and sometimes weekends, your job in The Middle is tough. Add to that the familiar challenges you face outside of work—the pressures of family life, a kid who needs help with math, a dog that wants to play catch, the new diet to start, eldercare, prescriptions, finances, 401(k)s and 529(b)s. More to do at work. More to do outside of work. You feel trapped by the confines ...

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