The board of directors panicked. They demanded layoffs to protect the margin. Marcus refused. Instead, he called an all-hands meeting. He didn't stand on a stage; he stood in a circle with the staff.

He was in the loading docks, wearing a high-vis vest, learning how to scan inventory from a twenty-year veteran named Sarah.

"I don't have all the answers," Marcus admitted, his voice steady but raw. "But I know we have the best problem-solvers in the industry right here. If we cut costs together, we keep everyone's seat at the table. What do you see that I don't?"