Avoid the Unproductive Mistake of "Blimplementing"
I always struggle to separate strategy from implementation.
Or Blueprinting (Strategy) and Implementation (Execution), as our friends at Sixth Division describe it.
Here is how this usually goes.
- Huzzah I have an idea! I must begin writing down how this could bring peace to the realm and make me a better dancer (those are obviously intertwined).
- Strategy Time: Time to think about the high-level approach to bring this idea to life. Why will people buy this ... how will they purchase it ... how will we market and sell this to customers ... can it be 10x better than what they currently use ...
- Implementation Invasion: Shoot I've got so much of this strategy sorted out I might as well set up a Facebook page, deploy Google Tag Manager on my non-existent website, begin drafting email copy for our email marketing efforts, and hire a part time PR consultant to land us some earned media and a byline or two...
The operations side of my brain makes a quick jump from step #2 --> step #3. I mean, why not? I'm already designing the strategy -- we may as well as implement a few things!
Am I right?
No Mike. You are wrong.
Attempting to implement a strategy that is still being born is similar to eating like a snake: You're trying to eat your food all in one bite.
No matter how many times you hear a person called a "snake" on the Real Housewives of Nova Scotia or the latest episode of House of Cards, we humans are not snakes.
We do not eat our food in one bite.
And just like we take multiple bites to consume a meal, the human brain is better suited to create a clear strategy and then move on to the implementation phase of a project. That's what my personal experience has taught me.
Care to disagree with me? I'm all ears. Leave me a comment below and I'll get back to you.
Until next time…
Your constantly curious friend,
Mike
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