Cats, Temples, and Strategic Goals
Setting strategic goals is a ritual that often adds little value yet causes real headaches. –– A guru would give talks at a temple, at nine each morning. A cat…
How To Learn (And Teach) Strategy?
The New Format Business Schools Need I work a lot with business schools in different countries—I teach strategy. Everywhere I meet great professionals, genuinely devoted to their work. That doesn’t…
Cheetahs, Gazelles, and Business Strategy
I’ve audited hundreds of strategies, and here’s what I saw — part 4 Reroute the billions spent pushing good products at the wrong people, and we’d wipe out poverty. Poor…
The Core Segmentation Mistake in Strategy
I’ve audited hundreds of strategies, and here’s what I saw – part 3 Will an office clerk from a low-income country shell out $2,000 for a foldable smartphone? Will the…
Market Leader — a Slippery Term
Short notes from a contrarian strategist “Market leader” is a term invented by journalists to grab attention. A company’s market position depends less on its success and more on how…
I’ve Audited Hundreds of Strategies — Here’s What I Saw
Nothing destroys strategy quite like strategic planning Autumn is here—the season of strategy reviews and annual planning. Some companies will use it well and reap the rewards next year. Others…
“I Hate My Job”
Three strategies to tackle leader burnout “Sometimes I hate my job.” I’ve heard that from business leaders many times. I know what they mean because when I was a CEO,…
Synergy — Tried and Found Guilty
M&A deals, business logic, and the most precious resource Do you want to land your business in trouble? Would you like to end up in strategy textbooks as a cautionary…
Business metaphors you shouldn’t use
Notes of a contrarian strategist The authors of blogs and books on strategy like metaphors. “Strategy is a plan to conquer the market.” “Strategy is an expedition into unknown realms.”…