In fact, I have come to view the inevitable periods of pressure that accompany leadership and life as a golden opportunity to do some of my best work when it matters most — and to engage with the people around me in a most meaningful way. The opportunity to perform under pressure, in the face of adversity, and to meet or exceed expectations is key to lifting our contribution profile over time. It seems to me that it is in those moments where the odds are stacked against us, when the heat is palpable and the stakes feel high, that, at our best, we can delight in rising to the challenge and prevailing. Or, at the very worst, in the words of Teddy Roosevelt — if we fail, at least we fail while “daring greatly” — which is a better fate than joining the ranks of “those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.”