I recently read The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein, a writer from Seattle. It's about a very smart dog who understands English and likes to watch TV. He's a lot like my dog Django actually, except this one is especially into auto racing.

The dog learns from studying car races that racing in the rain takes a lot of skill. You have to make decisions quickly but you also need the moxie to stick to that decision even if it makes you nervous. You just point the car in the direction you want to go and have faith that your skill will deliver you there. You need to trust your own instincts, because even a slight hesitation can really mess you up.

When you do that, good things happen. Just ask the pilot who landed his plane in the Hudson River yesterday. He had seconds to react but he trusted his instincts and every passenger walked off that plan safely.

Running a business today is like racing in the rain. It's slick out there and accidents can happen. Seasoned business leaders who never doubt themselves are facing indecision, maybe for the first time. Executives with nerves of steel are feeling nervous. The hounds are at the door and a hard rain is falling.

In times like these, entrepreneurs need to remember what got them here. Chances are it was a sense of adventure, and the confidence that they had the skills, talent and moxie to stand a little risk. It is that kind of confidence that allows business leaders to stick to their plan even if the wind shifts. They have a sense of purpose, and they understand that if their plan is strategic enough, it will lead them where they want to go.

It is not so much where we are. It is really our reason for being there. Maybe that understanding is all it takes to keep us on track.