Seth Godin, a renowned author and blogger known for his groundbreaking insights on work and strategy, dives into crafting modern business plans. He argues that traditional plans often complicate rather than clarify, pushing for simple, systemic solutions. Godin emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership, urging leaders to understand others’ needs to drive successful strategies. He outlines six key components for effective planning: Truth, Assertions, Alternatives, People, Money, and Time, highlighting the need for adaptability in a changing world.
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insights INSIGHT
Tactics vs. Strategy
Strategy is often skipped because we're trained for tactics, not strategic thinking.
We focus on doing our assigned jobs, rather than defining our roles and objectives.
insights INSIGHT
Truth in Business Plans
A modern business plan starts with acknowledging truths about existing systems and the status quo.
Define the realities of the system you operate in before outlining your intended changes.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Hooker Chemical Example
Hooker Chemical polluted not out of malice, but because the system prioritized profit.
Community action created boundaries that shifted the system towards profitability without pollution.
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Innovate and Achieve Growth Without Displacing Industries, Companies, or Jobs
W. Chan Kim
Renée Mauborgne
This book challenges the conventional wisdom that disruption is the only path to innovation and growth. Kim and Mauborgne argue that disruption, while powerful, is often destructive, leading to job displacement and industry upheaval. They introduce the concept of 'nondisruptive creation,' which allows companies to grow and innovate without the negative consequences of disruption. The book provides practical frameworks and real-world examples across various sectors, showing how this approach can benefit both business and society. It emphasizes the importance of balancing business growth with social good and offers a new perspective on innovation strategies[1][2][5].
This Is Strategy
Make Better Plans
Seth Godin
In this book, Seth Godin provides a framework for effective and elegant strategic thinking. He challenges readers to identify their 'smallest viable audience' and make remarkable work, understand and influence the systems shaping our world, prioritize long-term thinking over instant gratification, and make smart, purposeful choices that shape a better tomorrow. The book is designed for leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers seeking lasting transformation in their careers and communities.
Seth Godin: This is Strategy
Seth Godin has published 21 bestselling books that have changed the way people think about work. He writes one of the most popular blogs in the world, and two of his TED talks are among the most popular of all time. His blog is at seths.blog and his newest book is titled This is Strategy*.
Seth writes this: “It’s not clear to me why business plans are the way they are, but they’re often misused to obfuscate, bore, and show an ability to comply with expectations.” In this conversation, Seth and I explore the key components of a modern business plan.
Key Points
Big problems require small solutions.
We often skip strategy because most of us have trained our whole lives for tactics.
A modern business is clear about systems and the status quo. Use the system if you intend to change the system.
Assertions are the heart of a business plan. Leaders need to have empathy for someone else’s “better.”
Articulating alternatives helps you stay resilient when some of your assertions are inevitably wrong.
Find people to support you who have a track record of shipping.
A useful business plan gets easier over time and persists (and maybe even thrives) when the world changes.
The six sections of a modern business plan:
Truth
Assertions
Alternatives
People
Money
Time
Resources Mentioned
This is Strategy* by Seth Godin
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How Leaders Build, with Guy Raz (episode 491)
How to Grow Your Business, with Donald Miller (episode 629)
Doing Better Than Zero Sum-Thinking, with Renée Mauborgne (episode 641)
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