Without a workers' compensation carrier, Gevity might as well lock its doors. The air hanging over the bullpen and through the hallways of Gevity's Bradenton headquarters carried noticeable concentrations of doom. "The only way to get through this," Vonk says looking back, "was to be a 'possibilitarian.' " It worked. In March, Gevity HR is expected to announce net income for the year ending Dec. 31, 2003, of 60 cents a share, an increase of 172% over the previous year. Revenues were on track to increase 10%, to more than $410 million. Earlier in the year, Gevity completed a private placement that brought in $30 million in capital. And this past November, Gevity had the wherewithal and cash to look outside of its walls and acquire an HR outsourcing division of California-based TeamStaff for $9.5 million. Gevity is not only still alive, it's gaining momentum and strength. The turnaround at Gevity over the past two years is a lesson in possibilitarianism.