The day began well enough. I got to the office at about 8 a.m., grabbed a cup of coffee, and sat down to the latest issue of the Rosensteiner Investinfo Report on Nuf Fun, the sporting goods company where I’m CEO. It always gives me a kick to read the analysts’ reports, and this one was no exception. First the Company Description: “Denver-based Nuf Fun is a widely diversified manufacturer of branded leisure products catering to active sporting/recreational participation, including Alpine and cross-country skiing, climbing, parasailing, and various water sports.” Then the Investment Conclusion, which was real favorable. A sharp knock on my office door interrupted my reading, and the assistant director of the product development team, Verity Hinde, came in.
A version of this article appeared in the July–August 1997 issue of Harvard Business Review.