Watching events unfold in the Kremlin and Ukraine serve as a reminder of that famous Mike Tyson line.
Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth.
For Vladimir Putin, his invasion of neighboring Ukraine has been a punch in the mouth requiring a rapid reworking of his plan.
It is stark evidence for every leader of the need to surround themselves with people and advisors who are willing to tell the emperor they have no clothes.
The all-powerful Russian leader’s self-centred approach has made him famous for being a brilliant superhuman capable of scoring 15 goals in a professional hockey game as those around him defer to his whims, allowing him — if not encouraging him — to believe his own press releases.
But, when he ventured next door where deference to Russia’s supreme leader has not been a requirement, to get along, he ran headlong into reality.
It is costing thousands of lives, countless millions of dollars and disrupting the world economy.
To put it simply, Putin is getting his first real 360 performance review, one where he isn’t the only person contributing
