Business leader David Rocker has identified what he calls a "confidence crisis" affecting workers and entrepreneurs across industries, pointing to declining engagement metrics and limited access to mentorship as key challenges. According to a 2023 Gallup report cited by Rocker, employee engagement has dropped for two consecutive years, with fewer than 33% of U.S. workers feeling connected at their workplaces. For new entrepreneurs, more than 40% report lacking access to mentors, advisors, or necessary resources.
Rocker, who brings over 30 years of experience in corporate finance, commercial real estate, and strategic consulting, emphasizes that traditional systems often feel "too rigid or too quiet," leaving individuals to solve problems independently. "When something breaks, we're expected to fix it ourselves," he notes, describing a common scenario where people are "tossed into the deep end and told to swim."
The solution, according to Rocker, lies not in overhauling entire systems but in building practical support structures through mentorship, feedback loops, and intentional reflection. He advocates for returning to basics like in-person interactions and one-on-one coaching, stating that "the kind of guidance you can't get from a PDF or a webinar" makes the most significant impact. Rocker shares that some of his most valuable lessons came from informal moments, explaining, "Some of the best lessons I ever got happened after meetings. Quick chats. Honest feedback. That stuff sticks."
To address immediate challenges, Rocker offers 10 actionable steps individuals can implement within a week. These include identifying three clunky processes and fixing one, blocking 30 minutes for reflection, asking for 15 minutes of specific advice from someone more experienced, and offering help to someone newer. He also recommends reviewing cash flow or schedules as systems to identify bottlenecks, documenting recurring mistakes to implement small changes, scheduling in-person meetings, removing low-value tasks, dedicating time to mental reset, and expressing gratitude to past mentors.
Rocker's approach is grounded in his background in systems engineering from Georgia Tech and his experience guiding companies through various economic cycles, including the dot-com bust. He recalls learning that "You don't lead by pretending things are predictable. You lead by preparing for change," a lesson that now informs his work with businesses and mentorship initiatives for minority-owned businesses and disabled veterans through his firms NYSA Capital LLC and The Rocker Group, LLC.
The importance of Rocker's message extends beyond individual productivity to broader economic and social implications. With employee engagement declining and entrepreneurial support lacking, businesses risk reduced innovation, higher turnover, and stalled growth. By implementing structured, small-scale improvements, individuals and organizations can build resilience, foster collaboration, and create more sustainable operational models. Rocker concludes with a call to action: "You don't need to fix everything. You just need to begin," encouraging readers to select one of the 10 steps and commit to it for seven days while sharing the message with others who might benefit.
