Stop treating cost management as a necessary evil. According to veteran financial expert Duane Deason, sustainable success hinges on weaving cost discipline into the DNA of your organization—starting with proactive planning, not reactive panic. The biggest mistake leaders make is assuming the financial crisis will pass and neglecting structural cost controls. Actual efficiency comes from balancing growth-focused Visionaries with detail-oriented Operators on your leadership team. Operators ensure the business runs lean, which is essential even when profits are booming.