It’s the Strategy, stupid!

Relax, I’m not here to offend anyone. I’m simply echoing Bill Clinton’s famous 1992 campaign mantra, “It’s the Economy, stupid.” That message cut through the noise by refocusing attention on what truly mattered. Today, when businesses struggle, teams feel overwhelmed, and initiatives fail, it’s time for a similar reminder:

“It’s the Strategy, stupid.”

This isn’t an accusation—it’s a wake-up call. At the root of tangled processes, unclear goals, or stalled initiatives often lies a fundamental strategic issue.

But what do we mean by Strategy?

Strategy isn’t about vague aspirations or buzzword-filled statements:

“To become the best, we’ll leverage synergies, innovate relentlessly, diversify our portfolio, and enhance profitability.”

¯\(ツ)/¯

Instead, Strategy is about clear, informed decisions leading to systematic execution and measurable results. It’s pragmatic, data-driven, and accountable.

From Berlin to Lisbon: Your Strategic Journey

Imagine your business is in Berlin, aiming for growth in Lisbon. Lisbon is your vision—a major milestone. But a vision alone won’t get you there.

You Need a Map

Just like a road trip needs a map detailing roads, terrains, and landmarks, your strategic map must clearly outline your market reality, customer insights, competition, and internal capabilities. At Farol Growth Partners, we call this starting with reality, not assumptions.

Choosing Your Path: Decisions and Trade-offs

With your strategic map, you see multiple paths—each with different trade-offs and opportunities. Prioritizing decisions is crucial: identify your “must-haves” (e.g., meeting a key partner in Paris) versus your “nice-to-haves” (e.g., scenic views through the Black Forest).

Strategic decisions in business—selecting markets, allocating resources, choosing channels—should form a coherent story, clearly aimed at solving your growth challenge.

From Planning to Execution

Choosing a path is just the start. The journey involves translating strategic decisions into concrete, executable steps. Farol Growth Partners emphasizes creating practical, action-oriented plans—not just presentations.

The 3Ds of Effective Strategy: Diagnose, Decide, Do

At Farol, we simplify Strategy into three essential components:

• Diagnose: A detailed, data-driven analysis of your current position.
• Decide: Clear, informed choices based on your diagnosis.
• Do: Systematic execution, tracking progress with measurable outcomes.

Reflect on where your strategy might be faltering. Are you overly analytical, endlessly diagnosing without deciding? Do you leap into decisions without adequate diagnosis? Or perhaps you’re caught in execution without strategic alignment?

Strategy is a Continuous Journey

Just as unexpected detours arise on a road trip, business strategies must adapt to changing market conditions and new insights. At Farol, we embrace Strategy as a continuous cycle of diagnosis, decision-making, and execution.

Final Thoughts: Navigating Your Strategic Road

The Berlin-to-Lisbon analogy simplifies Strategy’s complexity: diagnose your landscape clearly, make focused decisions, and execute methodically.

As you reflect on your strategic journey, ask yourself:

• What’s our Lisbon?
• Is our map comprehensive and realistic?
• Are our decisions aligned and actionable?

At Farol Growth Partners, we deliver revenue growth—not presentations. If you’re ready to refine your strategic approach, let’s talk.

Safe travels on your growth journey!

PS: this framework is based on the Strategic kernel by Richar Rumet. If you want to dive deeper, check out his book “Good Strategy/Bad Strategy”