16 Dec Strategy – The Big Picture
What is strategy?
Stephen Covey sums this up nicely when he states that you must see the end in the beginning. A strategy is seeing the big picture and having an overall game plan. Therefore, an idea of individual and collective areas within your life is required.
Eliminating the small stuff
When you have a big-picture plan, it removes the more minor issues as they arise. When problems crop up you only look for a solution that fits into the bigger picture plan, you do not waste time, nor money, on smaller concerns that do not help you in the long run. You have a clear vision of what you are doing and why. You have a broader perspective that keeps you focused on what is essential.
Vision or illusion?
When you have a strategy, your actions align with the vision of how you want things to be in the future. And, most importantly, a plan of how to get there. Alternatively, without implementing a strategy, you have an illusion in your mind of how you want things to be, without actually having a plan that helps you get there. That is called hope, which isn’t a strategy.
Strategic execution
Consequently, with an action plan, you have a purpose that aligns with your inner being. You no longer live life like a leaf that blows whichever way the wind blows. Having a clear vision provides direction and purpose. Your mind is focussed; your mind is clear. Consequently, you are committed to your goal.
The balance of strategy
Having a strategy is essential to fulfilling your plan and keeping you on track. However, it is not good to have a one-track mind. Two reasons come to mind. Firstly, life requires flexibility for when things do not go to plan. You can still keep your eye on the prize (goal), but you also need to be flexible for when things go off track. This is when you need to be mindful of the big picture and react accordingly. Secondly, life consists of many different areas, so hopefully, you have a strategy in place for each area of your life, which means you have diversity in your life. Still, if you don’t, you can put a plan in place to get that sorted, whatever you do don’t be hard on yourself or others – be kind, be kind, be kind.
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