1) Strategy starts with insight , not analysis Great strategy comes from creative insight —seeing patterns competitors miss—rather than piling up data or frameworks. 2) The Strategic Triangle : Company–Customer–Competitor Win by optimizing all three simultaneously, not by focusing inward. Advantage exists only relative to competitors and valuable to customers . 3) Relative advantage matters more than absolute strength Being good isn’t enough; you must be better where it counts —on cost, differentiation, or focus—versus specific rivals. 4) Focus on key success factors (KSFs) Identify the few variables that truly drive success in an industry and concentrate resources there , ignoring noise. 5) Break the business into strategic segments Don’t accept industry definitions. Re-segment markets to find pockets where you can win disproportionately . 6) Zero-based thinking beats incrementalism Question all assumptions. Design strategy as if starting from scratch, not by tweak...
“Plants know how to make food and medicine from light and water, and then give it away.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass Have you ever wondered why tea drinkers always seem so calm? A cup of tea can lift mood, improve focus, reduce anxiety, and perhaps ward off dementia. That’s because tea contains a unique combination of caffeine and a non-protein amino acid called theanine (also known as L-theanine). Only found in tea and a rare mushroom, theanine may be the best-kept secret behind tea drinkers’ calm happiness. These two ingredients have an extraordinary effect on the brain. L-theanine has a very calming effect, while caffeine is a stimulant. L-theanine modulates caffeine, reducing its jittery effects and promoting a calm, focused state of mind. I’m referring to the Camellia sinensis plant’s black, green, white, and oolong tea. This tea differs from herbal tea, an infusion made from any other plant called tisanes. Of all the thousands of plants to choose ...