Strategy in Three Minutes. Episode 34

1. Strategy and Value Exchange: OUTvestment instead of INvestment

When we invest money in something, we call it an ‘investment,’ though in many cases, it’s actually an ‘OUTinvestment.’

Every time we hop on every tech trend only because everyone else does, that’s outvestment.

Every time we launch a product without diving deeply into customer needs, that’s outvestment.

Every time we advertise a poor product in the hope that it’ll somehow fix the problem, it’s outvestment.

Every time we invest in digital transformation only to cut costs and streamline processes, it’s outvestment.

2. Strategy-related terms: AI agents won’t change a thing

Just like productivity apps and smart calendars didn’t.

We don’t need smart AI helpers, we need new workflows.

Everyone is talking about AI agents as the next big thing in productivity.

Smart algorithms will handle routine tasks and free up employees’ time for creative work.

Sounds good for a tech nerd but not for a manager who runs a company or a department.

Imagine a company with workflows – and employees who run them.

Let’s say that an AI agent can free up two hours per day for a few employees.

It won’t raise their productivity because they will have nothing to fill this time with. Their colleagues will continue working the same way they work today.

AI agents will be helpful only when companies redesign the whole workflow, which is difficult and painful. Few major companies will be able to do it.

We’ll see the rise of AI agents this year, but they’ll fade away quite quickly.

3. Thursday musings: Are we asking AI to solve the wrong problem?

We’re obsessed with productivity, and we believe AI will help us get more done.

We want to squeeze more into the same amount of time by offloading some routine tasks to AI.

But routine tasks aren’t the biggest problem.

According to some stats, only about 25% of employees are actively engaged at work.

Does it make any sense to free up an hour or two for people who hate their jobs or are just indifferent?

Shouldn’t we focus on tools that make work more engaging and meaningful — not just faster?

Do we need AI agents or AI entertainers? Or AI motivators?

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Download my new mini-book The Plague of Strategic Goals for free here—a gift for my subscribers! Oh, and by the way, the same link also has free checklists (in case you haven’t grabbed them yet)!

Svyatoslav Biryulin

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I help businesses scale fast by creating new markets. Do you need expert guidance to craft a winning strategy for your business? DM me.