Business Strategy is about making choices. In fact, if you haven’t made some difficult choices in forming your strategy, I’d go so far as to say that you don’t really have a strategy.
I often run into people who have several products or services, who are unable to focus on the major opportunity that lies before them. They believe that if they concentrate on just one of those products, it will be a big winner for them, but to do that, they’ll have to give less attention to their other products. And they’re uncomfortable with the idea of giving up on the known rewards that come from some of those lesser products in order to back the chancier outcome of their big opportunity product.
Imagine you’re walking along a beach, picking up attractive pebbles. Your hand is full of pebbles when you spot an unusual and really beautiful large stone. The only way you can pick it up is to empty your hand.
And that’s what you have to do in your business strategy. Figure out where the best opportunity lies and then clear some space so that you can pursue it.
Hi Matthew, thanks for another good article. It’s great to be part of a business with an abundance of opportunities. However, you are right about identifying and pursuing the best one. It seems to be common sense until you really think about it. How often do we get sidetracked by issues that take us away from our main focus and priorities? One of Stephen Covey’s great quotes is “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” I try (with varying success) to live this out every day.
“How often do we get sidetracked by issues that take us away from our main focus and priorities?”
Me? Never! 🙂
I have a client in this situation. He has so many opportunities and he is not in a position to pursue all of them simultaneously, but then again, who can? I am passing this article on to him. Your points are well-made and very timely. Thank you.
Anita,
I’m glad you found the article helpful – and I hope it makes sense to your client too!
Matthew