Fire Succession
Crisis forces clarity, eliminates organizational debt, focuses resources.
Marvel's bankruptcy cleared old ownership, bad licensing deals, and unfocused strategy. Emerged from bankruptcy with clear focus and concentrated resources, freed from complexity accumulated during profitable years.
Forest fire kills above-ground plants but releases nutrients (ash), clears competitors, triggers dormant seed germination. Disturbance eliminates weak competitors and concentrates resources for survivors. Fire-adapted ecosystems regenerate faster after fire than undisturbed ecosystems grow.
Business Application of Fire Succession
Crisis forces clarity, eliminates organizational debt, focuses resources. Like forest fire clearing competition and releasing nutrients, bankruptcy or market collapse can clear old ownership, bad deals, and unfocused strategy - allowing focused regrowth.