Impact Impression Blog

Do you know why many would be successful business owners (entrepreneurs) get stuck while making strategic plans and choices? It is because they considered Where to Play  without reference to How to Win. I’ve heard variants of this over and over. Although I have always emphasized that these five choices have to link together and reinforce each other, hence the arrows flowing back and forth between the boxes, it has become clear to me that I haven’t done a good enough job of making this point, especially as it relates to the choices of Where to Play and How to Win. Many people ask why Capabilities and Management Systems are part of strategy when they are really elements of execution. That is yet another manifestation of the widespread, artificial, and unhelpful attempt to distinguish between choices that are “strategic” and ones that are “executional” or “tactical.” Remember that, regardless of what name you give them, these choices are a critical part of the integrated set ...

Have you ever tried to wish things away or pretend a particular problem will go away if you just ignore it? I have; a considerable number of times. But do they go away? Most times, they don't. Let's take this scenario for an example: you visit a doctor for your regular check-up and the learned man advises you to watch your diet because you are becoming obese; or, your bank account radar tells you that you are on the fast lane to bankruptcy - if you continue in your loud lifestyle. Then what do you do? Relax and wish it away? I've heard many advice that sometimes, all you need to do is to give " that challenge"  some time - allow it slide - and things would get sort out (by itself). Most times, we declare, It will pass, give it time. But does every problem require this passive approach? No. Going back to the sited examples above, if you don't heed your doctor's advice by actively  watching your diet, you will end up obese and sick. And of course, ...