Scribd
Upload
17 views17 pages

How I Write The Ultimate Strategy Document 1744895566

The document outlines how to create an effective strategy document, which is a concise Word document divided into four sections: the strategy story, how we must change, the strategy statement, and actions to take or eliminate. It emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating the need for change and summarizing the strategy in a single impactful statement. The author encourages actionable steps to ensure the strategy leads to tangible results.

Uploaded by

krishab.imp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
17 views17 pages

How I Write The Ultimate Strategy Document 1744895566

The document outlines how to create an effective strategy document, which is a concise Word document divided into four sections: the strategy story, how we must change, the strategy statement, and actions to take or eliminate. It emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating the need for change and summarizing the strategy in a single impactful statement. The author encourages actionable steps to ensure the strategy leads to tangible results.

Uploaded by

krishab.imp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

How I write the


ultimate strategy
document.

ALEX M H SMITH
S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

This is one of the most common

questions I get.

What does a strategy look like?

Is it a deck?

Is it a sentence?

Is it an onion, pyramid, or some

other arbitrary shape?


S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

Here’s how

I do it...
S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

I call it the “strategy document.”

It’s a Word doc, designed so that


you can send it to anyone, they can
read it, and instantly get what

you’re doing.

No other explanation required.

It’s divided into 4 sections:


S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

The strategy story: where you explain

your idea and why it will work.

How we must change: where you get

clear on how this idea differs from what

you were doing before.

The strategy statement: a practical

one-sentence summary.

Three things we must do / kill:

actions we must take now.


S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

The strategy

argument.
S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

This is like making a case to a jury.

First, explain the status quo

Then, why this sucks

Next, what you’re going to do

different

And finally, what value this gives

the customer.

Writing in a narrative format exposes

weak thinking.
S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

Think of it as an emotional journey:

The value created

The status quo What we’re going to do

Why this sucks


S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

How we must

change
S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

No change in behaviour?

No change in results.

This is why you must make it clear

how this strategy differs from what

you were doing before.

If you can’t explain this, you’re just

kidding yourself.
S T R AT E G Y S E C R E T S

The strategy

statement

S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

Summarise your idea like this:

We are the only [company type]

Who offer [unique value to customer]

By doing [unique innovation in the category]

This hits the key beats and should keep

you on the straight-and-narrow.


S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

Things we
must do / kill

S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

There’s nothing worse than a

strategy that fails to result in action.

So make sure yours isn’t one of them.

Create a list of:

3 things we must do to execute

this strateg

3 things we must kill to execute

this strategy

And then go out and do them.


S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

That’s it!
S T R AT E G Y SECRETS

That’s what a strategy looks like.

And this is the kind of thing you’re

going to build if you buy my new

product, The Strategy Shortcut System.


Get The

No Bullsh*t
Strategy
Toolkit free.
By joining 25,000 other founders subscribed

to my newsletter, The Hidden Path

LINK IN MY BIO

You might also like