Situation:

A well-known pharmaceutical company based in Boston was under threat of being taken over by an even more well-known activist investor (who has since succeeded in installing his own board at Yahoo). In any case, this was something they wanted to avoid if at all possible. But they had only one month to plan, execute and promote their plan to the general public and their shareholders. They needed to make the case for electing their chosen Board of Directors or their company might be carved up and sold like so much raw beef. A terrible end for the founders and shaky times for the hundreds of employees left standing. They were truly out of options. There was nothing they could do. Well, not exactly.

One day after that board meeting, the activist investor admitted defeat in the national press.

Unlike Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, this company was not too big to fail. Most all of us fall into that category. Frankly, a business story is not a “nice-to-have” item. It’s critical to both the profitability and the longevity of your company. And, someday, might even save your company’s life.