There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to most managers. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between art and science, between the qualitative and quantitative and it lies between the pit of a manager’s fears and the summit of their knowledge. That’s the signpost up ahead–your next stop, the Strategylight Zone. The time: 5:30 pm. The place: a company, any company, maybe… READ MORE
Pick-Up-Sticks is a game many of us played as kids. If you recall, a bundle of sticks roughly six inches long are held in a loose bunch and released on a table top, falling in random disarray. Each player then takes a turn removing a stick from the pile, with the goal of not moving or disturbing the remaining ones. Unfortunately, in many organizations, the use of strategy tools is eerily similar to Pick-up-Sticks. A series of random, unrelated… READ MORE
On a warm spring night, it’s hard to deny the appeal of an artfully crafted ice cream sundae. Whether it’s a banana split or peppermint chip drizzled with hot fudge and peanuts, it’s a mouthwatering sight to behold. And when it’s first made, all of the ingredients can be seen clearly in their places. But wait twenty minutes before eating it and it becomes a gooey conglomeration, difficult to distinguish the ice creams from the… READ MORE
Major League Baseball’s annual spring training means the welcoming back of warmer weather, the smell of freshly mown grass and another year of the Chicago Cubs not winning the World Series. Men making millions of dollars a year, the best in the world, invest approximately six weeks to refresh on the basic skills of the game. When is the last time your team refreshed on the basics of business strategy? When is the last time your team had a… READ MORE
Two of my favorite things are strategy and Mexican food, but it’s tough to connect the two. So, a big thanks to Yum Brands CEO David Novak for making the link. In an interview this week in USA Today, David talked about his leadership of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut along with the other offerings under the Yum Brands umbrella. In the article, David was asked, “What’s the key to being a successful global company?” His reply, “You need to be… READ MORE
With a flurry of activity each day, we hope to accomplish the tasks that will enable us to reach our goals. Ideally, that flurry of activity is preceded and then interspersed with strategic thinking. Thinking strategically means carving out time to consider the current context, or situation we’re in, identifying insights that will lead to new value for customers and then executing on those initiatives to deliver value. However, a recent… READ MORE
In the constant battle to keep up with the competition, managers often react immediately to other’s tactics by rolling out similar tactics of their own. Instead of thinking strategically about their next moves, they abandon the plan and step up to the wheel to play another round of tactical roulette. Their aim is to reduce the perceived gap between what the competition is doing and what they are doing. Little do they realize that the gap is the… READ MORE
In business, we define profit as a financial benefit that is realized when the amount of revenue gained from a business activity exceeds the expenses. Do you live a profitable life? Or, are you putting in much more than you’re gaining? Too often, we spend countless hours in work or other activities and feel frustrated because we’re not getting much out of it. Take the quiz below to find out if you live strategically. 1. Do you have a… READ MORE
The beginning of the year is an opportune time to create a strategic plan for yourself. Yes, you. Will you spend the year bouncing around from one thing to the next like a bumper car at the carnival? Or, will you live this year with purpose, focus and clear intent on getting the most out of your work and your life. My research with more than 2,000 adults showed that less than 2 out of every 10 people have a plan for their life. I had the… READ MORE
