Hold the Line
How We Will Stay Calm When the World Goes Mad
The world tilts again tonight.
Sirens ring out over Tel Aviv. Explosions light up the skies above Tehran. Markets are lurching. Oil is spiking. Headlines scream. Some cheer, some panic, and most just scroll endlessly, trying to make sense of something senseless.
Another war is underway.
And once again, teams and leaders everywhere are faced with the same quiet question behind the noise:
How do I hold steady when everything else is shaking?
The Stoic Stance
Marcus Aurelius had a front-row seat to the collapse of empires and the failures of men. He led Rome through plague, war, betrayal, and crisis. He didn’t have Twitter (or X, or whatever it’s called these days) or cable news—but he did have his mind, and he trained it like a soldier.
In times like this, I think back to a quote from Meditations—the same one I’ve included at the beginning of our last two board meetings:
“You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
It sounds simple. It’s not. But it’s the heart of Stoic leadership: when the world loses its mind, the leader keeps theirs.
At B:Side, we expect everyone to lead in their own way. One of our core principles is “Be Your Own Boss.” That doesn’t mean going it alone—it means taking ownership, staying composed, and showing others what clear thinking looks like when it matters most.
Most people look outward in chaos. They chase news, opinions, and arguments like moths around a flame. Leaders do the opposite. We look inward. We slow down. We quiet the noise. That’s where real control begins.
Clear Eyes, Calm Pulse
Robert Greene would say that chaos is an opportunity—but only for those who can master their emotions. In The 33 Strategies of War, he writes that when the battlefield gets confusing, clarity becomes a weapon. Most people overreact. The leader who keeps their footing can see the whole board.
Panic is contagious. But so is calm.
If you stay grounded, others will mirror you. Not immediately, but eventually. Your team will watch how you respond more than what you say. If you’re frantic, they’ll spiral. If you’re focused, they’ll anchor.
This is why emotional control isn’t just personal—it’s strategic.
At B:Side, we don’t react to every bump in the road. We don’t chase noise. We don’t make decisions from fear. We listen. We stay informed. And then we move deliberately—based on principle, not panic.
Control the Controllables
None of us can predict how this conflict will unfold. There are too many players, too much history, too many unknowns. But leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about creating clarity inside the fog.
Ask yourself:
What do my people need from me right now?
What decisions can I actually influence today?
What routines or rituals keep me centered, no matter what happens?
Start there. Stay there. Don’t drift.
Let the news do what it will. Let the noise rise. But don’t let it carry you with it.
This is where we aim to lead—not just in theory, but in practice.
What B:Side Will Do
Here’s how we hold the line—for our partners and for the people we serve.
For Our Lending Partners:
Banks across the country are trying to navigate a storm of uncertainty. Deal flow is always top of mind. Credit standards are tightening. Regulatory pressure is building. Now global conflict adds another layer of instability.
Our approach is simple: We’re your source of clarity and calm.
We’re going to:
Stay present and available. We won’t disappear into strategic ambiguity. We’ll be on the phones, on the road, in the room—helping banks make sense of what’s happening and where SBA and 504 lending can still provide stability.
Focus on quality. In times like these, the best risk mitigation isn’t retreat—it’s precision. We’ll help structure sound, impactful deals that meet real needs in our communities.
Provide insight. Through our content, analysis, and human connection, we’ll give you a window into what small businesses are experiencing—not through a national lens, but right here, in our region, with real people.
Keep things moving. Deals won’t stop. They’ll just get harder. We’ll do the work to help you get them done.
We are your SBA team—whether we’re providing full-service 504 support or partnering as an LSP on your 7(a) efforts. And in a time when many lenders are pulling back, we’ll help you lean in—safely, thoughtfully, and strategically.
For Small Business Owners:
The mood is shifting again. Just when things felt like they were settling, the ground moves. Interest rates are still high. Consumer sentiment is shaky. Now war enters the picture, and no one knows what tomorrow’s headlines will bring.
We’re not going to pretend we can predict the future. But we can help you prepare for it.
We’ll do that by:
Being consistent. If you’ve worked with us before, you know the drill. We’re transparent. We’re responsive. We’re human. That doesn’t change just because the world gets louder.
Simplifying the path forward. There’s already too much complexity. We’ll help you cut through it, whether you’re buying property, expanding operations, or refinancing existing debt.
Delivering what matters. You don’t need slogans. You need capital. You need clarity. You need someone who understands what it’s like to build something real—and who can help you protect it.
We’ve helped thousands of entrepreneurs weather hard times before. And we’re not going anywhere now.
The Eye of the Storm
Marcus Aurelius reminded himself daily:
“Do not waste what remains of your life in speculating about your neighbors… it is not in the nature of the thing itself which disturbs you, but your estimate of it.”
That’s the path. Don’t argue with reality. Don’t catastrophize or fantasize. Just see clearly.
There is always a center—an eye in the storm—if you’re willing to look for it.
You may be running a business, leading a team, or guiding a client through uncertain waters. Your duty isn’t to explain geopolitics or solve global crises. Your duty is to be present, to act wisely, and to lead with clarity.
Start with what’s in front of you. That’s what Marcus did. That’s what we do.
The Calm Within
Some people look for reassurance in headlines, analysts, or politicians.
Don’t join them.
Look instead to your own training, your character, your values. These are the things that endure.
If you’ve done the work—if you’ve trained your mind, built your habits, and cultivated stillness—this is the time to trust it.
Now is when the Stoic practice becomes real.
Now is when leadership matters most.
Not when it’s easy.
But when it’s necessary.