A strategy is what you will do differently than your competitors to create a “unique and valuable position.” It is what you will say “yes” to, and perhaps more importantly, what you will say “no” to. A strategy involves trade-offs because we can’t actually have it all and successfully compete. And a good strategy will choose activities that fit together to reinforce each other, making it difficult for competitors to imitate your position. (Source: “What is Strategy” HBR case by Michael E. Porter)
This case was written in 1996. These are not revolutionary ideas, but they are the fundamental ideas that can get lost in the organizational effectiveness buzz today. Similarly, our own strategies for our lives can so, so easily get swept away in the “life effectiveness buzz” of our day-to-day activities. That is, if we even have a strategy for our life. It’s easier for us to focus on building better habits, being more productive, buying that gadget that will make our lives easier, or listening to self-improvement podcasts all the time than it is to truly consider…
- What is my strategy for my life?
- What trade-offs does this strategy require?
- Am I staying true to what I have said is important to me?
I’m not saying we should all have a strategy to “win” at life. But I am saying that we can’t do everything. Having a strategy for our lives helps us figure out what to say “yes” and “no” to in an intentional manner rather than reacting to the decision based on our feelings in the moment. Intentional decision-making > reactive decision-making.
Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism” is a great read on this topic (or his podcast, What’s Essential).
Daily Learnings 