Enough gloom and doom for one recession: Let's focus for a moment on the opportunities that shine through the clouds. When the economy heads south, certain stocks get attractively priced, and activist investors see a chance to seize foundering companies and turn them around.

Winning isn't just about outscoring your opponent or exceeding the next quarter's goals; it's about doing what's in the long-term best interests of all your fellow stakeholders. With some notable exceptions, business leaders are focused only on short-term gains. We need to demand better.

Reading Keith Richard's much-praised autobiography "Life," and at the same time thinking about corporate leadership, the author came to a startling conclusion. Richards the retirement-shunning rocker and Costco CEO and founder Jim Singeal have an essential trait in common. Authenticity: the drive that can't be faked.