After working with dozens of multi-million dollar companies.
Strategy execution is what separates good from great.
Steal our 5 rules of strategic execution:
Strategy execution is what separates good from great.
Steal our 5 rules of strategic execution:
If your strategy is stalling, you're violating one of these 5 rules:
Rule #1: Strategy Should Be Fast
Rule #2: Strategy Should Be Clear
Rule #3: Strategy Should Be Resourced
Rule #4: Strategy Should Be Actionable
Rule #5: Strategy Should Build Momentum
Rule #1: Strategy Should Be Fast
Rule #2: Strategy Should Be Clear
Rule #3: Strategy Should Be Resourced
Rule #4: Strategy Should Be Actionable
Rule #5: Strategy Should Build Momentum
I've teamed up with @aymanalabdul to distill our years of strategic execution into a thread.
Ayman is the former CEO of AppSumo, and now helps coach 7-figure Founders into 9 Figure CEOs.
We’ve both built 8-figure companies and managed 8-figure projects.
Now let's do yours:
Ayman is the former CEO of AppSumo, and now helps coach 7-figure Founders into 9 Figure CEOs.
We’ve both built 8-figure companies and managed 8-figure projects.
Now let's do yours:
@aymanalabdul Rule #1: Strategy Should Be Fast
This is the biggest mistake we see leaders make when executing a strategy.
Strategy should be measured in days, not years
This is the biggest mistake we see leaders make when executing a strategy.
Strategy should be measured in days, not years
@aymanalabdul Treat your Strategic Plans like a VC Investment Portfolio
Seed a few Angel Ideas
We call this “test, then invest”
Invest more in the ones that show promise
Which of your current strategies are producing 80% of the results? Why aren't you throwing more money at it?
Seed a few Angel Ideas
We call this “test, then invest”
Invest more in the ones that show promise
Which of your current strategies are producing 80% of the results? Why aren't you throwing more money at it?
@aymanalabdul Rule #2: Strategy Should Be Clear
Goal setting is a science. Leaders love to focus on vanity metrics that don’t actually matter:
For example: “Open 100 new stores next year” isn’t a great goal.
Neither is "Write 40,000 words."
How will that move the needle on the business?
Goal setting is a science. Leaders love to focus on vanity metrics that don’t actually matter:
For example: “Open 100 new stores next year” isn’t a great goal.
Neither is "Write 40,000 words."
How will that move the needle on the business?
@aymanalabdul At 7 figures+ in revenue, goal setting should be about results, not activities.
So the goal isn't about opening 100 stores, but about driving $100m in Revenue Through Retail Channels.
So the goal isn't about opening 100 stores, but about driving $100m in Revenue Through Retail Channels.
@aymanalabdul But if we keep it at that, we won't know if we hit our goal until Feb 2024
So instead, we need leading indicators (leases signed, store openings, first 30 days revenue) which show traction towards the goal
So instead, we need leading indicators (leases signed, store openings, first 30 days revenue) which show traction towards the goal
@aymanalabdul Rule #3: Strategy Should Be Resourced
If you choose a strategy and you don't change your calendar, or your P&L.
That's a hope and a dream.
Which is a nightmare for your team.
If you choose a strategy and you don't change your calendar, or your P&L.
That's a hope and a dream.
Which is a nightmare for your team.
@aymanalabdul Strategy only turns into results through execution.
Execution only happens when a capable team has the proper resources, incentives, and understands what the goal is.
Execution only happens when a capable team has the proper resources, incentives, and understands what the goal is.
@aymanalabdul Rule #4: Strategy Should Be Actionable
When you break the strategy down into key goals and milestones, the goal shifts from being abstract to concrete.
Concrete goals are much easier to execute. You build momentum.
Each team member knows exactly what they need to deliver on.
When you break the strategy down into key goals and milestones, the goal shifts from being abstract to concrete.
Concrete goals are much easier to execute. You build momentum.
Each team member knows exactly what they need to deliver on.
@aymanalabdul “Increase profits by 50%” might be a good company-wide goal, but is meaningless for a single employee who can’t control the company’s profits.
Employees should not be tasked with figuring out how to achieve a huge goal.
Their individual goal should match their role.
Employees should not be tasked with figuring out how to achieve a huge goal.
Their individual goal should match their role.
@aymanalabdul Rule #5: Strategy Should Build Momentum
Your Goal as CEO is to build an unstoppable flywheel of strategic execution.
Your business should feel easier to run each month.
What steps you take that actually put cash in the bank? Put levers on each of them.
Your Goal as CEO is to build an unstoppable flywheel of strategic execution.
Your business should feel easier to run each month.
What steps you take that actually put cash in the bank? Put levers on each of them.
@aymanalabdul If you were forced to make $100k next week, what would you do?
That is the start of your flywheel
When that happens (and this is the key phrase) "you can't help" but get to the next step.
At AppSumo, when we closed Incredible Deals, we couldn't help but add more customers.
That is the start of your flywheel
When that happens (and this is the key phrase) "you can't help" but get to the next step.
At AppSumo, when we closed Incredible Deals, we couldn't help but add more customers.
@aymanalabdul Companies with failed strategy:
The team tries to do everything, achieves just 5% of the goal in the first year, and the team starts to lose interest.
Interest wanes, goals are lowered, and the project dies a slow, painful death.
The team tries to do everything, achieves just 5% of the goal in the first year, and the team starts to lose interest.
Interest wanes, goals are lowered, and the project dies a slow, painful death.
@aymanalabdul Companies with successful strategy:
Revenue grows YoY
Cash Flows Increase
Momentum Builds
And Your Calendar is Empty:
Revenue grows YoY
Cash Flows Increase
Momentum Builds
And Your Calendar is Empty:
@aymanalabdul With these 5 rules:
Rule #1: Strategy Should Be Fast
Rule #2: Strategy Should Be Clear
Rule #3: Strategy Should Be Resourced
Rule #4: Strategy Should Be Actionable
Rule #5: Strategy Should Build Momentum
Strategy Can't Help But Turn Into Results
Rule #1: Strategy Should Be Fast
Rule #2: Strategy Should Be Clear
Rule #3: Strategy Should Be Resourced
Rule #4: Strategy Should Be Actionable
Rule #5: Strategy Should Build Momentum
Strategy Can't Help But Turn Into Results
@aymanalabdul If you enjoyed this thread, we'd love to hear from you.
What rules would you add to this list?
We're here for a few hours of live AMA.
Follow @aymanalabdul & @polak_jasper for future threads on strategy execution.
What rules would you add to this list?
We're here for a few hours of live AMA.
Follow @aymanalabdul & @polak_jasper for future threads on strategy execution.
@aymanalabdul Twitter is great for tactics and action.
But we can't go deep.
Every Tuesday in my newsletter, we double-click on one idea to help you become a better project manager.
Manage work and lead people.
Join 7,691+ other project leaders today for free!
projectleaders.io
But we can't go deep.
Every Tuesday in my newsletter, we double-click on one idea to help you become a better project manager.
Manage work and lead people.
Join 7,691+ other project leaders today for free!
projectleaders.io
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