Focus = De-focus? Strategy = NO?

How do you see your world?

The act of seeing requires us to focus. And therefore, de-focus from everything else.

Animals see the world very differently. Check this amazing article to see how birds, cats, rattlesnakes and others see the same world that you and I see!

In the organisation context, everyone sees the same situation differently. Different people choose to focus on different things. And therefore do not see other aspects.

Once we agree on what we see, we can articulate a strategy on what to do next.

Articulating a strategy involves defining what we will do. But, like the act of seeing, it probably, more importantly, means defining what we will not do.

Maybe the essence of strategy is the ability to say "NO" to everything else.

Saying "NO" is not easy. Saying "NO" does not make you popular.

It is so much easier to say "YES" to all the new ideas and initiatives from great people with wonderful intentions.

As they say:

"The path to hell is paved with good intentions"

All the new ideas with good intentions take away precious time, attention and money from the core of the business.

The "new girlfriend fixation" that my friend had warned me about - where the new idea always seem more alluring than the existing "boring" one where we know what to do and have to do it 5% better, faster and cheaper.

Focus = De-focus? (from everything else)

Strategy = NO? (What not to do)

What do you think?

Good post. NO? :)