Strategy

A few years ago, I was deep into my final-year MBA project, designing a strategy to launch a new business in the UK. I thought I had a solid plan: a well-researched market analysis, a detailed marketing mix, and a roadmap for growth. But something wasn’t quite right. I had ambition. I had a vision. But the more I refined my plan, the more I realised I was making the same mistake that many of us in marketing often make: I was confusing goals with strategy. I wanted success, but I hadn’t truly defined the challenge standing in the way of that success. I had listed marketing activities, but I hadn’t decided on a clear, guiding approach that would make them work together. Then, I came across Good Strategy/Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt. And it changed everything.