Mastering Uncertainty

by Matt Watkinson, Csaba Konkoly

What separates the world’s most successful founders, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the rest? It’s not visionary ideas or superhuman intelligence. It’s something more fundamental—their relationship with uncertainty.

Most people are blown off-course by unexpected events. Top performers, by contrast, know how to navigate our unpredictable world. Not just that: they know how to thrive in it.

You can acquire this essential skill, too.

In Mastering Uncertainty, investor and serial entrepreneur Csaba Konkoly and award-winning business author Matt Watkinson reveal the shortcomings of conventional business thinking and the advantages of developing a ‘probabilistic’ mindset that turns uncertainty from a source of fear into an incredible and exciting advantage.

They offer superbly practical advice on everything from how to handle setbacks and expand your network, to how to spot business opportunities and shape them into successful, growing businesses.

Above all, they show how to think and operate like a great entrepreneur.

Genres: Business, Psychology, Nonfiction, Management, Leadership

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 28, 2023

Reviews

[Neil Krikul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I saw Rory Sutherland’s recommendation for the book so it didn’t take much to convince me to buy this book. However, that also comes with high expectations.


This is just my perspective, but other than the first few chapters about what uncertainty and chances could bring to our lives and what they mean, to challenge our common attitudes of uncertain change, I did not learn anything new much from the rest of the book as it becomes more about business management that, although valid and insightful, I have already read about from other books.

[Michal Sventek · Rating 3 out of 5]

First half of the book was great and really dug deep into the topic of uncertainty in life, work, management, etc. The second half reads more like a business school textbook on running your company, unrelated to the book’s main topic.

[zoagli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really struggled to get through this book. Is well written, but the contents is a rehash of other books I’ve read or of concepts I know about. Some ideas worth keeping were:

The opposite of success is not failure, it’s learning. And if losses are affordable, failure is impossible. The key question is “How much can I afford to invest to find out whether this idea might work?”

Be coachable. Find an expert, ask them what to do, then do it. Easier said than done. Some people ask an idiot what to do. Some find an expert and tell them what to do. Some listen to the expert, then do the opposite.

Decide who to be, and what to do comes more easily. Some people believe that individual change or growth begins with doing things differently, and then we’ll become the person we want to be. In reality, the opposite is far more powerful: first, we decide who we want to be, then the behaviors follow.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastering Uncertainty is a no-bullshit, wisdom-from-the-trenches masterpiece!

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some segments are undeniably helpful and positive for building a more healthy view on changes and uncertainties in the world. I gave this rating because as a non-fiction fan, most of the ideas found here are ideas already learned or read in other books, with this one giving me the impression of nothing new, and plenty of recycled points.
Also, one more reason for less stars is that it is strongly aimed towards the business world. I recognize I could have researched more before buying it and could have found that out. But I let myself attracted by the cover (where the word "business" is nowhere to be found in my edition), and created the expectation that it will bring more value or inspiration in the personal area, on the individual, psychological level. Turned out to be extremely focused on creating and/or keeping businesses that thrive in shaky environments, which is not among my interests. Not to mention the more "exploitation vs exploration" ideas that seem a consequence of the extreme capitalistic view I do not agree with...

[Zachary Bemrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick summary…business school was a waste of time. Follow your heart, interests, and gut. Keep an eye out for serendipity and look to create a network of talented individuals with the same goals in mind.

Fair enough.

An obvious over simplification of the book but not far off. I disagreed with his take on price change and brand design. In my personal experience it is not easy to change pricing…customers don’t take kindly to a constant fluctuation of price and I don’t think taking your time to create a well thought out brand message and identity is a waste of time and resources. It seems he left out the creatives on this one.

I’m sure someone could dig out a few nuggets from this book but it is not one I will remember nor recommend to fellow entrepreneurs.

[Nikola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super professional and very knowledgeable. Interesting and informative chapters. Helpful for the reader, companies, leaders, teams.

[Arkam Frz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple super...

[Stephen Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book