For many business leaders, the greatest challenge is ensuring that their company can survive and thrive despite unforeseen circumstances. Bill Kruse, CEO of Legacy Architects and author of Permission to Change, has dedicated his career to helping CEOs, founders, and business owners design organizations that are both durable and adaptive. Drawing from decades of experience at top firms like KPMG and Ernst & Young, as well as running his own advisory firm, HKA CPAs & Advisors, Kruse understands the unique pressures leaders face when balancing growth, personal goals, and long-term sustainability. His book offers a roadmap for business resilience, emphasizing that a company should be structured to support the lives of its leaders while remaining strong in any market or economic condition.
Permission to Change goes beyond traditional business advice by focusing on both organizational and personal resilience. Kruse argues that a resilient business is built on intentional planning, robust processes, and leadership prepared to navigate change without being overwhelmed. CEOs often invest heavily in growth strategies while neglecting the systems and frameworks that allow a business to continue operating during crises or transitions. Kruse’s book addresses this gap, offering practical steps to strengthen financial stability, develop leadership continuity, and create operational systems that maintain consistency, no matter the external or internal pressures. By doing so, leaders can ensure that their companies not only survive challenges but thrive through them.
Kruse’s approach is shaped by his unique life experiences, beginning in the soils of the Midwest where he learned the value of patience, planning, and long-term thinking. Transitioning from farming to finance, he honed the ability to combine disciplined analysis with strategic vision, guiding countless business owners through acquisitions, succession planning, and generational handoffs. In Permission to Change, he shares these lessons in a way that is actionable and immediately applicable, providing readers with tools to future proof their organizations. CEOs and founders who implement these strategies can achieve the rare combination of business strength, personal fulfillment, and the ability to leave a lasting impact on their industries and communities.
The book also emphasizes the importance of aligning personal purpose with business operations. Kruse believes that resilience is not just about protecting revenue streams or building strong systems; it’s about creating a company that enhances the lives of its leaders rather than draining them. By addressing both personal and organizational preparedness, Permission to Change equips CEOs to make strategic decisions, maintain focus under pressure, and lead with confidence. Business longevity is not an accident—it is the product of deliberate planning, structured processes, and the mindset to navigate change. Through Kruse’s guidance, leaders gain a clear framework for ensuring that their business is strong, adaptable, and designed to endure far beyond any single leader’s tenure.
