"Being a contrarian, being an independent thinker has never bothered me. I knew it was going to be hard no matter what. But I was trying to be opportunistic. I was willing to make a very big bet in money and time."

-Sears Holdings chairman Edward S. Lampert, in an interview last week with The New York Times. Lampert discussed his attempt to turn around Sears and Kmart, which he had purchased out of bankruptcy, since taking over as chief executive of the combined company in 2013. Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection on Oct. 15.