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April 2024
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LONG-TERMISM IS OVER8/18/2021 As I wrote in my recent Strategy article for CSAE, long-termism is over. Look hard around you. Rules and instructions change quickly and contradict all the time. "Focus your executives’ time on discerning where the pressure points and opportunities will be in the coming years, and identifying the most proactive approach. Review your plan every six months to a year, and be prepared to revise as driving forces (i.e. technology, regulations, consumer preferences, social mores) change rapidly without warning." Key to this are three mindsets: agility in strategy (not just in operations and pouncing on opportunities), strategizing on the strategy, and the discipline to follow-through. Agility in strategy is about absolutely turning conventional wisdom on long-term planning. It's about learning as you and improvising your subsequent steps rather than preoccupied with planning as if every ducks are in the row. Strategizing on strategy is ensuring that optimal use of resources of doing, measuring, and implementing your new strategy. Forget the 3-day strategy retreat in a nice resort or vacation destination. Try remote strategizing once a week for the next 3 months or so and be surprised as to how much you can accomplish with so little! And third, discipline is the modern-day effectiveness and efficiency combined as measures. Without the discipline and laser-focus commitment, your strategy becomes just a strategy, not a reality. Consider this when you think about long-termism using a short-term perspective for the future- the post-pandemic future, that is.
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RADICAL IMPACT10/26/2020 Last year, I discussed that Mission is not Enough. Being an on-purpose organization alone without exhibiting sufficient value for society through their target partners is a major degeneracy.
Few organizations behave differently in purpose sector and do not exhibit these following traits or tell these drama: 1) Self-privileged- We do good in the world, therefore you should....... us. 2) Poor us, we do God's work-We don't have money for investing with our talent, systems, and operational excellence. We don't have overhead, therefore, you should trust us to be excellent in delivery. Non-sequitur.. 3) It's enough to do good- We don't need to innovate. Our mission speaks for our existence and that's enough for you to give as grants, donations, etc. Mission is not enough. Being good seldom works. 4) There's too much need out there, we are overstretched, please stop demanding more!- We don't need to do better than what we do currently. These are lame excuses for organizations whose relevance has become antedated without them knowing. Look yourself in the mirror, if these are the same words you are operating with in late 2020 as an executive, get out of the way or get your acts together. Nobody will ever laud that your organization existed, they only care if you have performed well beyond society's expectations.
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WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?9/16/2020 Woody Woodpecker asked, "What's the big idea?"
To which the other fellow replied, "You and your milk!" Big ideas grab headlines. Big ideas move mountains and people. Visionaries toggle between one big idea and on to the next. The BHAG mindset gives us the excuse to think big and leave the mundane to others. People love big ideas. They like being entertained with the fact that these big ideas are being funded by OPM-other people's monies and OPM-other people's machineries. It's good to see the view at 20,000 feet altitude but going down: the view changes drastically. Leaders cannot toy with big ideas without being unscathed by the realities of implementation. The major fright comes from the fact that there are many hats to be worn and handshakes to make. There are investments to be made from resources that seem to deplete the moment the ink has dried. There are gazillion things to do to even get at basecamp. Instead of coming with big ideas, why not start with the next-level ideas. There are studies supporting that change isn't scary when presented with the next logical step-an easy implementable blueprint where followers are not asked a 360% transformation, but a gradual shift over the course of time. Focusing on goals that you can realistically accomplish will ensure that there is enough fuel that keeps you motivated but also enough oxygen to get you through each day. Overwhelm is a by-product of too much, too soon, too many -all at once. Lastly, are you a delayer or early satisfier? Delayer waits at the last minute to accomplish the big ideas by creating layers of complex rituals and processes that are not necessary or essential while satisfiers are good at completing the task in front them and slaying the proverbial dragon, one by one. Creating impact is not after 5-10 years of hard work and sweat. It's right now. What's your big idea? How do you turn that 'big idea' into everyday wins and giant outcomes? |