The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics
Equal Ventures 0 implied HN points 31 Mar 20
  1. Founders need plans for various potential scenarios caused by the pandemic, leading to the creation of a standardized framework for strategic planning.
  2. The framework is divided into 3 key sections: current impacts analysis, short-term scenario planning, and long-term implications discussion.
  3. Personalizing the framework template for different business categories is important to account for varying impacts and parameters.
Joseph Gefroh 0 implied HN points 09 Mar 24
  1. Effectively delivering a proposal is crucial for its approval by decision-makers and stakeholders.
  2. Summarizing your proposal concisely is key - leaders are busy and need clear, quick information to make decisions.
  3. Using the right medium, such as presentations or written documents, is important to communicate your proposal effectively.
Joseph Gefroh 0 implied HN points 03 Mar 24
  1. When driving meaningful change, it's crucial to formulate your idea and gain approval from various stakeholders within an organization.
  2. Thorough research is essential before proposing any idea to ensure credibility and avoid unknown unknowns that might lead to rejection.
  3. Crafting a compelling narrative is just as important as presenting facts; having a structured story helps decision-makers understand the problem, solution, and value of the proposal.
Joseph Gefroh 0 implied HN points 26 Feb 24
  1. Startup leaders often seek perfect, 'A-player' candidates but end up damaging their companies by delaying hiring unnecessarily.
  2. A-players aren't flawless - they have weaknesses and can't excel at everything. It's better to hire adaptable 'B-players' with potential.
  3. Fix your hiring strategy by focusing on teamwork, being realistic about needs, and considering a mix of generalists and specialists.
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Joseph Gefroh 0 implied HN points 11 Feb 24
  1. Startups prioritize speed for short-term gains but may suffer in the long run if quality is sacrificed.
  2. There are two main kinds of shortcuts: reducing quality and reducing scope. It is advised to prioritize reducing scope over sacrificing quality.
  3. Quality shortcuts can result in increased costs for startups, impacting speed and effectiveness. It might be better to invest in sustainable practices upfront.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter 0 implied HN points 19 Aug 20
  1. Widespread testing for Covid-19 requires cheap tests and fast results to isolate infected individuals quickly.
  2. Lowering costs and increasing speed of testing are essential for successful mitigation of Covid-19 spread.
  3. Using a strategic testing approach, combining low-cost, rapid tests with high sensitivity tests, can significantly enhance the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter 0 implied HN points 13 Feb 17
  1. Snapchat prioritizes execution over control to drive user engagement and product innovation.
  2. An execution strategy can be more profitable than a control strategy, as it allows for quicker market entry and cost-saving experiments.
  3. Snapchat's strategy mirrors Apple's approach of focusing on innovation rather than building barriers to entry, though profitability execution remains unproven.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter 0 implied HN points 26 Oct 16
  1. Digitization exposes weak links in traditional content business models and breaks them, emphasizing the importance of understanding the connection between content and returns.
  2. Successful businesses recognize early the need to adapt and delink aspects of their operations to stay profitable in the digital age.
  3. Content providers need to focus on social elements and consumer value, not just information, to remain relevant and successful in the changing media landscape.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter 0 implied HN points 20 Apr 16
  1. The auto industry is facing disruption from electric batteries, autonomous vehicles, and mobile phones. Traditional car companies like Ford are trying to catch up with new business models.
  2. The rise of mobile phones and ride-sharing apps present a challenge to carmakers' traditional business model of selling cars to individuals. Companies are exploring new approaches like car-sharing partnerships and separate business units.
  3. Ford's strategy of creating Ford Smart Mobility, LLC to focus on connectivity and mobility services is a unique response to disruptive technologies in the automotive industry. The move reflects Ford's effort to adapt to changing consumer needs and market trends.
Joshua Gans' Newsletter 0 implied HN points 27 Jan 16
  1. Twitter lacked a clear strategy compared to Facebook, affecting its growth and innovation.
  2. Entrepreneurial strategy involves clear initial choices like defining customers, technology, identity, and competition.
  3. Twitter's lack of a founding strategy still hinders its development and understanding, suggesting it might need a fundamental change to reach its full potential.
Venture Prose 0 implied HN points 01 Feb 16
  1. It's crucial for companies to stay updated with technological advancements and industry changes to avoid rapid decline.
  2. Corporate Venture can offer solutions to cope with fast, unexpected changes through avenues like incubators, VC fund investments, and strategic direct investments.
  3. The Corporate Venture model involves various approaches like Spin-Offs, thematic investments, majority investments, and Corporate Studios, each serving different purposes in fostering innovation and adaptation within companies.
Austin's Analects 0 implied HN points 26 Mar 24
  1. Austin shares his strategy and analysis for CrossFit Open Workout 24.3, revealing his overly ambitious plan and the consequences of it on his performance.
  2. The workout consisted of thrusters, chest-to-bar pull-ups, bar muscle-ups, and strict time caps per round, showing Austin's struggle with pacing and transitions.
  3. Austin reflects on his execution, acknowledging his mistakes, overestimations, and areas for improvement in future attempts at the workout.
Austin's Analects 0 implied HN points 04 Mar 24
  1. This post gives insight into optimizing performance for the 2024 CrossFit Open workout 24.1, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning and understanding workout tests.
  2. The author shared their workout strategy, performance analysis, and a tool to help others analyze their own performance in the CrossFit workout.
  3. Determining whether to retest a workout depends on factors like consistency in performance across rounds and feeling of leftover energy, offering specific ways to improve scores.
Austin's Analects 0 implied HN points 02 Jun 23
  1. Define your market by choosing locations where money is flowing or near natural beauty.
  2. Choose a strategy based on your resources like house hacking or flipping, and stick with it.
  3. Build a strong team including a property manager, contractors, and a real estate agent before executing your real estate investment strategy.
Chess Engine Lab 0 implied HN points 13 Apr 24
  1. Average centipawn loss (ACPL) gives an overview of the quality of a chess game by indicating the average number of centipawns a player loses during a game.
  2. Looking at the distribution of centipawn loss (CPL) in a game can provide more insightful information than just relying on ACPL, especially in drawn games.
  3. Analyzing CPL distribution for multiple games by the same player can show patterns in their play, including frequency of blunders and small mistakes compared to other players at their rating.
The Radar 0 implied HN points 02 May 23
  1. Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) airmen play a critical role in providing air support to ground forces, especially in close-quarters combat situations.
  2. The Air Force's decision to reduce TACP workforce by 44% over three years lacks transparency and may leave a gap in crucial air support during intense combat situations.
  3. The reduction in TACPs could have severe consequences if ground forces find themselves in a conflict without adequate air support, putting lives at risk.
The Small Business Corner 0 implied HN points 10 Jun 24
  1. The newsletter delivers a weekly rundown of articles and resources, making it a short and convenient read for subscribers.
  2. Articles cover a range of topics like mastering skills, tax guides, budgeting, business loans, and small business grants.
  3. The podcast recommendation explores the psychology of money and provides practical tips for better financial management.
Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc 0 implied HN points 30 Apr 17
  1. Success hierarchy includes attitude, approach, and goal as top priorities, not just strategy or tactics.
  2. It's crucial to identify personal goals before diving into tasks like learning programming languages or choosing operating systems.
  3. Being proactive, valuing time, willing to learn from mistakes, and questioning things are key attitudes for personal growth.
realkinetic 0 implied HN points 26 Apr 19
  1. Focus on what truly matters by avoiding tactical bikeshedding at the individual level. Prioritize efforts effectively to drive meaningful progress.
  2. Combat siloing issues at the team level by fostering alignment and collaboration across different functions within the organization. Break down barriers to enhance productivity and avoid duplication of effort.
  3. Address strategic bikeshedding at the organization level by implementing OKRs as a tool for driving discussions, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring a shared vision. Effective prioritization is key to achieving impactful results.
realkinetic 0 implied HN points 04 Oct 18
  1. Real Kinetic uses a declining-engagement model emphasizing mentorship to help clients for long-term success and quick value delivery.
  2. Their assessment process involves on-site visits and delivering documents like Assessment Summary, Key Risks, Next Steps and Path to Production, and Best Practices and Recommendations.
  3. Real Kinetic transitions from an active weekly/biweekly involvement to a monthly/quarterly retainer-based model, aiming to make clients self-sufficient while providing continuous support.
🔮 Crafting Tech Teams 0 implied HN points 13 May 23
  1. Focus on the target goal and avoid getting caught up in unrealistic optimism at the start of a project.
  2. A well-performing team makes strategic choices to cut unnecessary elements and pursue one clear objective.
  3. Constantly assess and revise your project scope to maintain focus on achieving your main goal efficiently.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 18 Jun 24
  1. It's important to measure the right things in a strategy, not just rely on numbers. Sometimes, we need to focus on quality rather than quantity to truly understand our success.
  2. Knowing when you’ve achieved a goal is key. You should have clear indicators so you know when to shift focus instead of endlessly trying to improve.
  3. Using the wrong metrics can lead to serious problems. Be careful to choose metrics that actually support your goals, instead of chasing numbers that don't really matter.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 04 Jun 24
  1. Understand if your board is passive or active. A passive board doesn't help you and can drain your energy.
  2. An active board can help your organization grow and succeed. Finding the right people is key to making your board better.
  3. You can start changing the makeup of your board right away by following some simple steps shared in the post.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 31 May 24
  1. Books on strategy can come from both business and non-business domains. They offer lessons on how strategy works in real life.
  2. Sharing insights in a community helps everyone learn and grow. It's great to hear from others about their favorite strategies.
  3. Exploring a wide range of books can inspire new ideas and approaches to strategy. Different perspectives make us better thinkers.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 27 May 24
  1. The Growth Needle is introducing paid subscriptions for readers, offering monthly and annual options. Everyone can still access content for free, and the support is appreciated.
  2. The community aims to help strategists learn how to create effective strategies for their organizations. Members include business leaders and strategists who want to improve their skills.
  3. New features will include a Friday thread, podcast episodes, and more insights to enhance the learning experience. This means more content and opportunities to apply what you learn.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 21 May 24
  1. Assess if your skills are holding your organization back. It’s good to reflect on whether you are the reason for slow growth.
  2. New strategies need new skills. Leaders must find ways to learn or adapt, so their team can succeed.
  3. Act quickly if you see signs of stagnation. Options like coaching or role changes can help the organization move forward.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 14 May 24
  1. Strategic thinking is often hard to achieve because many workplaces are busy with constant meetings and emails. This chaotic environment makes it tough for leaders to focus on big-picture ideas.
  2. Switching between tasks is fine for small work, but it hurts strategic thinking. Leaders should find ways to limit distractions when tackling important strategies.
  3. To regain control over their time, leaders can try setting office hours, blocking specific times for appointments, reducing their priorities, and changing where they do their strategic work.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 16 Apr 24
  1. Look for markets that are growing quickly; they're often full of opportunities. If a group of consumers is wanting something new or different, that's a sign there's potential.
  2. Identify unexpected characteristics about potential customers; this can reveal unique needs that aren't being met. Sometimes, people want what they didn't even know they wanted!
  3. Check for high dissatisfaction rates in existing services; if people are unhappy, it’s a chance for you to offer something better. When customers are frustrated, they are often more willing to try out new options.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 05 Mar 24
  1. Focusing on customers is key for making good decisions. When you think about what the customers want, it helps guide your choices.
  2. Long-term goals should come before short-term profits. Investing for the future can create more success than chasing quick wins.
  3. Measuring the impact of your choices is important. Knowing what works and what doesn’t helps you improve your decision-making.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 29 Nov 23
  1. Making better strategic decisions can help leaders and executives drive growth in their organizations.
  2. Each week, you can receive three new ideas from different industries to help approach tough decisions with more confidence.
  3. Subscribing gets you valuable insights, audio content, and a supportive community for sharing ideas and learning.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 24 Oct 23
  1. Good strategic insights can really change the way an organization plans for the future. Even a few strong ideas can shift everything.
  2. It's important to know where and how to find these insights. Look for inspiration in various places and from different people.
  3. Collecting insights can be a process. Think about how to gather and analyze information that can inform your strategy effectively.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 17 Oct 23
  1. Strategic decisions set boundaries that influence future choices. Once you make a decision, it limits what you can do next.
  2. Cities like Miami show how infrastructure can force people into particular behaviors, such as driving instead of walking. This lack of options highlights how decisions create constraints.
  3. Understanding the constraints created by choices can help you navigate decision-making better. It’s important to consider how one decision impacts future opportunities.
Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ 0 implied HN points 05 Sep 23
  1. Succeeding at something that doesn't matter can feel empty. It's important to focus on what really drives growth and progress.
  2. Sometimes, the wrong decisions can benefit the wrong people. Relying on unclear decision-making can lead to unexpected consequences.
  3. Just because a successful method worked once, doesn't mean it will always work. The landscape changes and adaptability is key to ongoing success.
QUALITY BOSS 0 implied HN points 20 Nov 23
  1. The Eisenhower Matrix helps prioritize tasks by looking at both urgency and importance. This way, you'll focus on what really matters instead of just what's urgent right now.
  2. Tasks fall into four categories: do it now if it's both urgent and important, schedule it later if it's important but not urgent, delegate if it's urgent but not important, and delete it if it's neither.
  3. Using this system can help you manage your time better and make sure that you work on tasks that have the most impact. Consistent practice will make it easier to decide what to work on.
An Ode to Restlessness 0 implied HN points 29 Feb 24
  1. Having too many founders can lead to problems like slow decision-making and lack of motivation. It's usually best to keep it to two founders who can share responsibilities effectively.
  2. Raising money too early can confuse the startup's direction. It's smarter to wait until you have a clear plan and product before bringing in investors.
  3. Focusing too much on long-term strategy can waste time. Instead, concentrate on improving your product and getting it into users' hands quickly.