The nation's economy has experienced many ups and downs over the past year as the country has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. While things currently seem to be looking up, in 2020 the economy declined at its fastest rate since World War II, leaving GDP $500 billion lower at the end of the year than it was at the beginning.

In times like these, most family businesses are confronted with the almost reflexive tendency to hunker down and set their sights on survival. However, that is not always the best option.

In this article from the Harvard Business Review, rooted in empirical data, the author explains why it might be better for midsize businesses to be aggressive, and details how they can go about doing so.