“The only easy day was yesterday” – US Navy SEALs motto
I recently had an interesting conversation with a prospective client. The topic was about updating the go-to-market strategy for their organization. While the concept of the new strategy I proposed was straightforward (the best ones usually are!), the execution was more complex and would require making some changes to their existing approach.
After some conversation, it became clear this CEO was fishing for a quick fix solution without any disruption. He wanted all the benefits of a new, transformative approach to the market. However, he was reluctant to invest the time, money, or resources to get there.
He wanted the benefits of growth, without making any changes to the status quo, and without doing the hard work.
This reminded me of a fundamental business lesson that applies to leaders of any organization.
As Woody Allen famously said, “eighty percent of success is showing up.”
The rest is just hard work.
No Shortcuts
The real secret to success in life is quite simple.
It does not matter if the topic is family, friends, your job, or executing a strategic plan.
There is no magic pill.
There are no shortcuts. (At least not lasting ones.)
The same fundamental rule of effort applies – you have to show up. And, even more importantly, you have to do the work.
You must be in the game, playing the game, in order to have any chance of winning the game. You cannot be on the sidelines and have any hope of success.
Connection to VUCA Strategic Planning
The harsh reality is that many strategic plans fail.
It is not because these strategic plans are necessarily bad, but rather because they are not executed.
Why? There are many reasons. Leaders and their teams get distracted. Competitors make noise in the market. Customers have problems. Employees need attention. Crises and distractions abound. Life interrupts…
As a result, the brilliant strategic plans that leaders and their teams invested a lot of time and money in developing are tossed aside. Hopefully to resurface when “we have more time.”
Sad but true.
A strategic plan is useless unless someone (or some team) shows up, and then does something. This bias to action is critical. By developing a robust VUCA Strategic Plan and following an effective Management Cycle cadence, leaders can stack the odds in their favor and ensure success.
A Dieting Analogy
Like many who have been mostly housebound during the global pandemic I have put on a couple of extra pounds (a good friend of mine, who has also put on some extra weight, calls it his COVID 19!).
After doing some research on popular diets, I discovered a dirty little secret.
Wait for it…
Nearly all diets work!
That’s right. The actual diet is not the problem. The real problem is the dieter. Most of us lack the discipline to buy and prepare the right food, to exercise appropriately, and, more importantly, the motivation to stick with the discipline of the diet.
Much like strategic planning. We have to show and do the hard work. There is no shortcut.
It really is that simple.
-Onward