Business Lunch Navigating the Challenges of 2025: AI as a Strategic Partner in Business
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Jan 15, 2026 Richard Lindner, an operating partner and advisor specializing in operational excellence, dives into the tumultuous landscape of 2025. He explores the critical mindset shifts necessary for survival during turbulent times. The conversation highlights how AI has evolved from mere tools to indispensable strategic partners in businesses. Lindner shares insights on creating AI agents that function as virtual leadership teams, the importance of decisive actions for company survival, and valuable lessons for optimizing operations and expenses moving forward.
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Survival Mindset Defined 2025
- 2025 felt like a year where survival was the primary metric and success meant simply staying alive.
- Richard Lindner describes the rallying cry as “don’t die,” capturing the year’s pervasive difficulty.
Decide Early To Stay Default Alive
- Make difficult decisions early to stay default alive during downturns.
- Install scorecards and financial systems so you can act decisively instead of waiting in indecision.
Indecision, Not Price, Was The Bottleneck
- Indecision, not price or capital, was the biggest barrier to sales for many companies in 2025.
- Holding cash doesn't equal action; uncertain buyers simply paused rather than spent.