The Upside of Down

Embrace uncertainty, seize opportunities, and thrive with the mindset of billionaires and start-up mavericks.

In a world shaped by Covid-19, fake news, manipulated information feeds, and divisive social-media agendas, it's easy to believe that our time is the most challenging in human history. It's just not true.

This is a time of extraordinary opportunity, but only if you have the right mindset. Fear of the future breeds inaction and strategic paralysis. Problem-solvers thrive in chaotic and uncertain times because they act to change their future. Winners recognise that in a world of growing uncertainty, you need to focus on things you can control.

Bruce Whitfield, in his two decades of interrogating how South Africa's billionaires and start-up mavericks think differently, has identified one common characteristic: a robust mindset. They don't ignore risk or hope problems will disappear. They constantly measure, manage, consider and weigh up opportunities in a tumultuous sea of uncertainty, finding ways around obstacles.

As Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Shiller suggests, the stories we tell affect economic outcomes. Amidst the noise and haste of a rapidly evolving world, we need to tell different stories. The Upside of Down shows you how to cultivate a mindset that will help you thrive in uncertain times.