I am huge fan of the TV series FROM. I usually don’t watch horror, but I guess for me, it’s the combination with mystery and science fiction that makes it appealing.

A group of strangers become trapped in a mysterious town they can’t leave. By day, they try to build some version of normal life. By night, human-like creatures hunt them, and survival depends on following strict, often unexplained rules. As they search for escape, they uncover unsettling clues about the town’s deeper logic.

One of the main ideas in the series is something they call “story walking” (often used in the context of the character Julie or the broader theme of navigating the town’s lore). It’s the ability to walk through past events or “chapters” of the town’s story, sometimes interacting with them but never truly changing them.

This concept, while supernatural, is an excellent metaphor for business auditing, post-mortem analysis, and strategic adaptation. It can represent walking through the “story” of a failed project, a customer interaction, or a market shift to understand the “why” behind the results.

1. “Whatever Happened, Happened” (The Post-Mortem)

In FROM, time is a flat line—you can revisit the past, but cannot change what has already occurred.

Business Practice: When a project fails or a product launch underperforms, stop trying to assign blame (a fruitless task). Instead, “walk” through the timeline of the project from start to finish.

The Goal: Analyze the steps to understand the “what,” not just the “why.” Review the data, the communication, and the decisions made at every stage.

2. Identifying the “Talismans” (Core Protections)

The residents of the town use talismans to prevent the creatures from entering, but they must hang them properly, or they fail.

Business Practice: Identify your business’s “talismans”—the core policies, compliance rules, or security measures that protect the company.

The Action: Regularly audit these protections to ensure they are still active and functional. A “talisman” that is not updated (e.g., outdated cybersecurity) is useless.

3. “They Never Run” (Patience and Strategy)

The monsters in FROM walk slowly, deliberately, and rarely run. They use strategy and psychological tactics to break down defenses, rather than brute force.

Business Practice: Resist the urge to panic or rush into erratic decisions during a crisis. A deliberate, slow approach to resolving a complex problem often leads to better long-term solutions than impulsive actions.

The Action: Focus on understanding the “monster” (market competition, tech disruption, or internal flaws) rather than simply running away from it.

4. “The Town Knows Your Name” (Customer Insights)

The creatures in FROM know the names, secrets, and intimate details of the residents, using this information to manipulate them.

Business Practice: Deeply understand your customers. Use data to know their pain points, their past interactions with your brand, and their fears.

The Action: Personalization is not just about using a name in an email; it is about knowing your customer’s “story” so well that you can offer solutions before they ask.

5. Leveraging “Faraway Trees” (Adaptability)

The town contains “faraway trees” that can teleport you to unexpected locations.

Business Practice: Embrace unconventional pivots. When a traditional path is blocked, look for the “faraway tree”—a new technology or partnership that can shift your company to a new location, even if it feels risky.

6. The “Scream” (Confronting Truth)

Characters in FROM often have to face harsh, painful truths about their situation, no matter how terrifying.

Business Practice: Cultivate a culture of “radical candor”. Do not ignore negative feedback, falling metrics, or unhappy employees. Facing the “brutal facts” is the only way to find a way out of the town (or a business crisis).

By practicing “story walking”—deliberately walking through the narrative of your business’s past—you can stop simply reacting to monsters and start actively managing your company’s future.

Strategic Reflection Prompt

If you walked back through how your current results were actually produced—step by step—what would become clear about what is really driving them… and what would that allow you to stop, change, or finally decide with confidence?

About Giselle

I’m Giselle Hudson, a Pre-Decision Diagnostic Advisor. I work with leaders when something feels off — where results, decisions, or team response don’t match what was expected. I examine what’s shaping outcomes beneath the surface, so the next move is grounded, not reactive.

If this feels familiar, don’t rush your next decision. We can look at your situation properly before you take action.