Build a Strategy that Addresses Your Gnarliest Challenges

Many strategies produced by companies and national governments are weak and lacking in action. A strategy is a design for actions needed to meet an important challenge. Whether in chess, war, business, or politics, the basic idea is to focus energy and resources where they will do the most good - on the enemy or opponent's weakness Effective strategies can be used on the chessboard, the battlefield, a political campaign, or in a business. Everything that people do or want to do is not an effective strategy.

I was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement by a CEO. His assistant brought in a folder labeled "Strategy" and "not for distribution." Most of the pages were summaries of the company's mission and values. The company's strategy was the key point.