If you want to build and maintain a tech firm that crushes its competition and separates itself from the pack, be prepared to take risks when times are tough and move quickly.

That's just some of the advice Cisco CEO John Chambers shares with editor Lindsay Blakely in an Inc.com Q&A about his 20-plus-year tenure at the helm of the tech giant, and what it takes to achieve that kind of longevity.

It’s a subject familiar to CRN readers. Chambers sat down for an extensive interview with editors last summer, and covered a range of topics. Cisco's primary challenge, according to CRN's reporting, is whether Chambers will stay to see it through all its recent changes.

Inc.com's Q&A also touches on Chambers' leadership philosophy and the company's business processes. Click here to see it.