The strategy conversation you can only have here
Strategy is about gaining a unique position. Often strategy is
mistakenly focused on the next steps that are needed such as "open new
markets", "expand into China" or "build a strong brand". These are objectives
and are only part of the strategy rather than the strategy itself. A simple
test for your strategy is, does my strategy describe how I/we become unique or
maintain our unique position? Examples of great descriptions of strategies for
businesses are, 'the only Hong Kong wine merchants of Chilean wine*' or 'the
largest art auctioneers in the Czech Republic'. Examples of great descriptions
of personal strategy are, 'the most prolific adventure sports writer' or 'the
first African in space'. The way to check your strategy is to ask if you are
the only one in the world who has your strategy. If not, then what's the
point? You're swimming with the sharks and climbing into water where there is
probably already a feeding frenzy. You may as well go and work for the other
guy who has your strategy already. Marty Neumeier best describes having a
unique strategy in his book
Zag
(when
everyone else is zigging you need to zag). W.Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne take
a more academic approach in
Blue Ocean Strategy
.
You'll find a short video summary of the book on the
Incredible
Strategies
page. * When your
strategy gets copied this position will move to 'The first Hong Kong wine
merchants...' Photo: Source Mike Berceanu Photographs Sharks
http://www.graphic-design.com/photographic/sharks/