Executive coach Dale Williams keeps his writing simple, but powerful. In his latest blog, he explains how to plan and get things done in business.
Think of the bigger picture, is his overriding message. There’s a difference between keeping busy and working smart.
You need to be alert to opportunities. They do come by, so make sure you know what they look like, and how they fit with your master plan, when you are staring at them. – JC
Planning your long-term business strategy like Apple’s Steve Jobs
By Dale Williams
There are at least two ways to plan and get things done.
One way is to plot.
That is breaking everything that needs to get done into smaller and smaller pieces and then manage your way towards the outcome.
The other way is to be ready.
When opportunities arise grab them; when they don’t arise sit back and wait for opportunities to arise.
Both ways need you to know, at a high level, where you would like to get to.
The first so you can plot the steps and the second so that you know which opportunities to grab.
In 1998, author Richard Rumelt (Good Strategy / Bad Strategy) met with Steve Jobs and pointing out that having only one computer would consign Apple to a niche that they would never be able to escape from, Rummelt asked Jobs, ‘What is your long term strategy?’
Jobs didn’t attack his argument. Instead he smiled and said ‘I’m going to wait for the next big thing’.
This blog is republished here on Biznews.com with the kind permission of Dale Williams. He blogs weekly in the connectedblog exploring examples that arise from the work he does helping clients create better strategies for themselves and their business. More about Dale at www.connecteddale.com.
For more by Dale Williams, read:
Best blogs of 2013: Change starts with the big blue bubble around you
Dale Williams: Taking risks and chasing your passion
Making work matter: Collaborate, create, borrow and lend freely – Dale Williams
