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Business Quote by Clayton M. Christensen

“I helped start a ceramics company called CPS Technologies. We took it public in 1987 at $12 a share. Three months later, there was this horrible cliff: Black Monday. Fidelity had bought 15 percent of our stock, and their algorithm caused them to dump it all onto the market that day. We dropped…” quote by Clayton M. Christensen
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“I helped start a ceramics company called CPS Technologies. We took it public in 1987 at $12 a share. Three months later, there was this horrible cliff: Black Monday. Fidelity had bought 15 percent of our stock, and their algorithm caused them to dump it all onto the market that day. We dropped from $12 to $2.”

Clayton M. Christensen

About This Quote

Source Interview: Harvard Business Review, 1990

Describes a sudden market crash that devastated a company despite prior success, illustrating volatility.

In simple terms: Markets can crash unexpectedly.

Key Takeaway

Prepare for sudden downturns.

Themes

business volatility risk leadership

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

business strategic

When to use this quote

  • stock market investing
  • startup planning
  • risk management
  • financial planning

Key Concepts

finance systemic risk

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can firms build resilience?
  • What safeguards can protect investors?
A Different Perspective

Predicting exact crashes is impossible.

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