Too Close to the Sun
One of the oddest ways that companies fail is by becoming victims of their own strengths. In other words, the very thing that generates competitive advantage morphs into a problem. […]
Strategic Plans Vs. Problems
There are two big classes of strategy activities. One is crafting a strategic plan. But as soon as you do, there will be strategic problems. Solving those is a different […]
Myopia
Most founders have experienced chasing a competitor—usually, feature by feature. When you’re in that kind of horse race, it seems like there is no other choice; as though, if you […]
Take the Long-View
The most iconic companies we admire started life with a vivid and long-term vision. And they strategized to fulfill it. So why don’t we do the same thing? These days, […]
You Are Here
You may know strategically exactly how and where you’re taking your organization. But that doesn’t mean everyone on your team knows how to get there. Everyone who works in an […]
When Rank Means Right
Have you ever had a boss who simply wouldn’t listen to your perspective? Maybe they dismissed you despite tons of supporting evidence that you might be right! Experience does eventually […]
Strategic Decay
Newton understood something profound about matter –and it is equally true for human systems and behavior. In any system, over time, entropy increases. It applies in our organizations, our strategies, […]
A Wobbly Waterfall
The world has become consumed with measurement. Most everyone I know has a smart watch, smart ring, pedometer, or something else that measures their bodily functions. High-growth organizations exemplify that […]
The SWOT Ledger
SWOT analyses are a much-maligned framework. And I confess to having been among the hecklers. In fairness, I respect the methodology, but I hate its use as a synonym for […]
Anchored to the Present
Peter Drucker famously said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Strategy manifests visions of what shall be, and builds the road to it. Over the […]