Chapter 4: Strategy in the Real World

A strategy isn’t a slide deck—it’s the choices you make when it counts.

Strategy isn’t theory. It’s not a vision statement, a retreat, or a set of slides collecting dust. Real strategy shows up in what you say no to. It’s the clarity to focus, the courage to commit, and the discipline to stay the course—even when it’s inconvenient.

This chapter is about getting brutally honest about direction.

Are you playing the long game—or chasing short wins that feel good in the moment but cost you in the end?

Are you bold enough to make fewer, sharper moves that matter?

Are you asking the right questions and measuring what truly drives progress?

Strategy without execution is just wishful thinking. So we cut through the fluff and get to the heart of it: define what matters, measure it relentlessly, and align your daily actions with your bigger goals. In the real world, strategy lives in your calendar, your budget, and your habits. That’s where it either lives—or quietly dies.

RULE NO. 3 is Differentiate or die.
RECOMMENDED READING: Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne

Why: Because, if you look like everyone else, you’ll be commoditized.

RULE NO. 3 SUMMARY

If your business blends in, it’s already falling behind. In crowded markets, blending in is a slow death. The only way to lead—not just survive—is to break away from the pack by creating clear, compelling differentiation.

“The only way to beat the competition is to stop trying to beat the competition.”

– W. Chan Kim, Blue Ocean Strategy

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RULE NO. 4 is Play the long game.
RECOMMENDED READING: The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

Why: Because, sustainable advantage requires patience.

RULE NO. 4 SUMMARY

Success in business isn’t about winning — it’s about enduring. Prioritize long-term vision, trust, and adaptability over short-term gains. Great companies focus on building something that lasts, not just something that performs today.

“Infinite-minded leaders understand that ‘best’ is not a permanent state. Instead, they strive to be better.”

— Simon Sinek, The Infinite Game

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RULE NO. 5 is Make fewer, bolder moves.
RECOMMENDED READING: Playing to Win by A.G. Lafley & Roger Martin

Why: Because, focused strategy beats scattershot tactics.

RULE NO. 5 SUMMARY

Focus beats frenzy. Spread too thin, you risk mediocrity everywhere. Bold, deliberate moves—rooted in strategy, not reaction—create real advantage. Commit to fewer initiatives, but back them fully. Win where it matters.

“Strategy…It requires making explicit choices—to do some things and not others—and building a business around those choices.”

— A.G. Lafley & Roger L. Martin, Playing to Win

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RULE NO. 25 is Ask better questions.
RECOMMENDED READING: A More Beautiful Question by Warren Berger

Why: Because, curiosity drives innovation.

RULE NO. 25 SUMMARY

The quality of your outcomes is directly tied to the quality of your questions. Leaders who ask better questions don’t just get better answers—they uncover blind spots, surface assumptions, and spark clearer thinking in themselves and others.

“The ability to ask beautiful questions — profound, ambitious questions that can shift the way we perceive or think about something — is one of the most powerful forces for change.”

– Warren Berger, A More Beautiful Question

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RULE NO. 26 is Define it. Measure it. Achieve it.
RECOMMENDED READING: Measure What Matters by John Doerr

Why: Because, what gets measured gets done.

RULE NO. 26 SUMMARY

Vague goals don’t move organizations forward—clear objectives do. This rule reminds executives that without defining what success looks like and establishing the right metrics, progress is merely hope in disguise. Define the outcome. Tie it to measurable key results. Then hold the line until it’s achieved.

“Ideas are easy. Execution is everything. And it takes a team to win.”

— John Doerr, Measure What Matters

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