Strategy in a Random World
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So what’s the first thing you think you need to start a business? A unique idea you say? While I’ll admit an idea is a big part of any venture, it is actually not a critical part of a successful business. There are plenty of less that unique business that do extremely well, so what separates them from you?
The difference is in the strategy.
When most people start a business, they like to jump into it head first. After all, they have this amazing idea that just HAS to work, why wouldn’t they? But the problem stems from them forgetting that they need a little thing called strategy.
You see, strategy in today’s world is much like a battle plan. Do you think generals just tell their troops to “Go fight”? Or do they tell specific types of troops to do specific things, all working simultaneously toward the final goal?
It’s the same thing in business.
When you run your business without a strategy, you are in a sense wandering around without a destination. Yeah, you may be able to find some cool places along the way, but there is no point to it. You have no goal.
The kicker isn’t just in a strategy and a goal either; it’s in a SPECIFIC strategy and a SPECIFIC goal.
Having a goal like “I want to be rich” can be even worse than having no goal at all. Having an extremely general goal can end up severely limiting your potential and it can focus everything you do on making immediate cash, even if it is at the expense of the company’s well-being.
Instead, you should aim for specificity. You need to be extremely specific on the “WHAT”, they “WHY”, and most importantly, you need to have a strategy for the “HOW”.
Strategy takes your goal and becomes a plan for how you’ll accomplish it.
So for example, if your goal is to make $100,000 a year in 2 years, your strategy might be to secure a position with one of the top companies in your field by strategically meeting and getting to know some of the top executives and applying for the positions you are qualified for.
Do you see what I mean? It’s not just what, it’s how. Knowing what your business needs to accomplish, when it needs to accomplish it, and how you plan on doing just that will all but ensure your success.
On top of even strategy though, you need to have the wisdom to know when what you brought into existence isn’t working.
Some businesses die because the owner seriously rides the plan all the way to the bottom of the ocean and never let’s go, when he could have prevented it by patching a hole and delaying delivery. Catch my drift?
You NEED a goal, you NEED a solid plan, and you NEED the ability to adapt in real-time.
Random things, weird things, and unpredictable things happen. You need to be on your feet, and either predict them (with the numbers) or dodge them as they come. If you can’t do that, it’s probably best you let someone else manage the business.
The moral of the story is that random things do happen, but when you have a strategy and you expect the unexpected, you really can’t fail.
So what about you? Have you or someone you know ever started something without a strategy? How did it go?
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