It is the Execution of the Process That Usually Prevails

Source: Wikipedia.org

Click here here to see the sign that was posted in front of the University of Oregon's football team locker room this past Monday.

We have seen many idealists and motivation speakers (preachers) who offered irrelevant advice to people by throwing quotes and general principles during their waking moment. They figured that it will generate inspiration and creativity. Once the positive energy starts, everything will be ok. These so-called idealists also believed that simple strategic principles (laced with some fairy tale stories) are always effective in our complex world. It is easy for them to talk the game especially when they rarely have their skin vested in any risky venture. Whenever there is success, these preachers take credit for it. However, it is usually their invisible project team who grinds through the details in a semi-dark back room.

We believe that knowing the general principles, the specific principles and a relevant process is the first step. Then applying it properly is the key to competitive success

In real life, most people are not that fortunate. They do not have the right support team, the resources, the right drive and/or the right strategic process to achieve the next economic level.. In most cases, they have no realization of the extremity behind the risk. After one or two setbacks, these amateurs surrender to the inevitable and return to their own settings, realizing that it was not meant to be.

In the mind of these idealistic preachers believed that a list of principles and their faith in their spirit will carry them to the "Promise Land." Yeah, sure. ...

A checklist of quotes or principles only works in a predictable setting. In most cases, it usually fails when the naive amateurs have no tangible comprehension of the risk and the uncertainty that are involved with the situation. They could be consciously unpredictable in how they deal with certain situations and possess no experience of strategic achievements or an emotional support system to fall back on. We will touch the depthness of that specific topic at a later post.

Once the illusion of hypes and faded hopes vanishes, one sees that the successful people are those who knows how to implement and execute . These implementers are usually willing to grind out the process of doing it regardless of the predictability state. Because they understand the tangibility of their goal, the strategic settings that support it and the quality of the possibility.

Compass Execution

In our case, we have always believed in the act of knowing the big tangible picture before making a strategic move. It starts by collecting evidence-driven statistics and the relevant facts. We also believe in the proper execution of a results-driven process. What do you believe in?

"90% of strategies fail due to poor execution. ..." - Harvard Business School research

We also believed that the origin of most execution problems begins with the poor understanding of the following three points:

• the "assessment of one's competitive terrain (marketplace)";
• the "positioning of oneself through the planning and preparation" process by choosing the right strategic methodology and the people who can operate within it; and
• the "influencing of the terrain and the competition" within it by properly executing the strategic process.

Regardless of the economics and logistics, the competitor cannot properly plan and execute when he or she does not understand themselves, their market terrain and beyond. What do you think?

Rumination from the Compass Desk

In summary, one has to know the grand questions before concluding with the tangible answer. It begins by knowing the big tangible picture. So, do you know if your big picture connects with the big tangible picture of your settings.

For what it is worth, Auburn defeated Oregon 22 to 19 for the BCS title this past Monday. The presumption is that the Oregon football team's application of the Art of War principles failed. The lesson is that the proper execution of the process that supports one's principles, usually prevails at the end of the game.

Compass Rule
Principles-supported process with properly planned protocols  usually raises the probability of winning.