#105: Sovereignty Out of Survival.

“Sovereignty…will be increasingly anchored in the ability to withstand pressure.”
- Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, in a speech to the World Economic Forum on January 20, 2026

Earlier this week in Davos, Switzerland, Mark Carney gave remarks outlining new strategies for securing his nation’s physical and economic security in the context of the changing world order as he sees it. He spoke of collaboration and the need for new partnerships abroad, as well as tactical strategies that are being implemented domestically. The tenor of his message revealed a fundamental reexamination of the conditions that must be created to ensure his country’s survival. Of course, the land mass and people of Canada aren’t going anywhere, but he sees the survival of his nation as being predicated on its sovereignty.

I would argue that sovereignty is the excess capacity to withstand pressure.

A business in its ‘survival’ phase is not yet sovereign. Its ability to operate from a place of full self-determination (even through interdependence) is hampered by the need to allocate all its energy to simply staying alive. At this stage, staying alive in itself is withstanding pressure. Withstanding pressure is survival.

Building sovereignty is what follows—developing enough capacity to absorb pressure while choosing a direction.

This could mean building up a level of profitability before entering a more desirable market. Or making cold calls and purchasing advertising before having a referral network to expand organically.

Survival is a foundational process that can be trying and uncomfortable and taxing. It is a process. The only way out of it is through it. But even without the capacity and external resources available to make the journey easy, the seeds of lightness and delight from the smallest play are available from within.

Become the observer.

We should watch ourselves in the chaos and pressure as if to watch a movie. Notice the movie that is playing rather than being consumed by it.

The hairline crack of awareness is the place from which sovereignty starts to emerge.

Watching is the first step toward choosing.

……….

Owners who have survived and are ready to implement the next choice might consider a focused build session with me here.