Episode #553: The Soul of Strategy — From Answers to Imagination

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We throw the word strategy around so much that it risks becoming meaningless. Is it a plan? A budget? A list of goals? In this episode of The Soul of Enterprise, Ron and Ed revisit the meaning of strategy through the lens of John Hillen’s book The Strategy Dialogues: A Primer on Business Strategy and Strategic Management.

Strategy, Hillen argues, is not chosen — it’s designed. It’s not about squeezing more juice from today’s orange but positioning for tomorrow’s orchard. From Netflix’s reinvention to Hilti’s leap into tool leasing, from LEGO’s brand extensions to Cirque du Soleil’s circus transformation, we’ll explore how strategy creates sustainable advantage by being different, not just better.

Join us as we unpack the difference between strategy and business models, between planning and thinking, and between reacting to the present and shaping the future. If you’ve ever wondered whether your “strategic plan” is really a strategy, this conversation will challenge, clarify, and inspire.

SHOW NOTES

Segment one

  • Today’s show starts with a discussion about “The Strategy Dialogues: A Primer on Business Strategy and Strategic Management” by John Hillen https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Dialogues-Business-Strategic-Management/dp/3903386286 

  • Straight from a review of The Strategy Dialogues, John Hillen: “While after I read most strategy books, I wish I hadn’t because they make no contribution to the theory and practice of strategy, I felt the opposite after reading The Strategy Dialogues.” https://johnhillen.com/the-strategy-dialogues/ 

  • “You can never research your way into a strategy. It’s more of a vision. It’s more of an act of creation.” —Ron Baker on today’s show about strategy

  • From Ed on the show today regarding different pricing models to support one strategy: We have generally used Apple as a an example of skim pricing. But that’s for their hardware. They are definitely using penetration pricing for their subscription services.

Segment two

  • “A clear strategy can act like a boss when the boss is not around.” —John Hillen

  • “Strategy is absolutely downstream of vision, mission, and values.” —Ed Kless from show number 553

  • “Plans are worthless but planning is everything.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower

  • Related to today’s show, Ron and Ed did a show called “Project Management Insights from D-Day”. It’s episode number 491 https://www.thesoulofenterprise.com/491 

Segment three

Segment four

  • We would like to thank CalCPA for being a sponsor of The Soul of Enterprise. They are genuinely trying to reinvent what it means to be a state society and you can check them out at CalCPA.org. @Cal_CPA

  • “I can’t think of any core competency that’s free. A core competency requires investment. Sometimes, a pretty massive investment” —Ron baker from show number 553

  • Also mentioned on the show today: “No Bullsh*t Strategy: A Founder’s Guide to Gaining Competitive Advantage with a Strategy That Actually Works” by Alex M H Smith https://www.amazon.com/No-Bullsh-Strategy-Alex-Smith/dp/1803136510 

  • Dr. Jules Goddard: “Strategy is the rare and precious skill of staying one step ahead of the need to be efficient.”

Bonus Content is Available As Well

Did you know that each week after our live show, Ron and Ed take to the microphone for a bonus show? Typically, this bonus show is an extension of the live show topic (sometimes even with the same guest) and a few other pieces of news, current events, or things that have caught our attention.

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