The hottest Strategy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Business Topics

positioning

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 15 May 08
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Being a copycat will never get you to the number one position. Create unique products instead of me-too products.
  2. Leading always has many advantages. Customers, employees, and partners all prefer working with companies that lead.
  3. Being different is key. Attract customer attention by offering something different from your competitors.

Planting Perennials Next to Potholes

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 26 Apr 19
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Our Engagement Process

realkinetic • 0 implied HN points • 04 Oct 18
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

How to Iterate Faster

🔮 Crafting Tech Teams • 0 implied HN points • 13 May 23
🕹 Technology Strategy
  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.

Measuring the progress and success of a strategy

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.
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How to design your dream board of directors

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jun 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Friday Thread #01: Favorite Books on Strategy?

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 31 May 24
📚 Literature Strategy
  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.

I have big news to share about the Growth Needle™

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 27 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Are you the limiting factor in your strategy?

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 21 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

How to find time to move your strategy forward

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 14 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

How to find profitable underserved markets

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 16 Apr 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

What are your decision-making rules?

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Uncovering more strategic insights

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

The one attribute that makes a decision strategic

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

What happens if you succeed at the wrong thing? [Growth Needle™]

Ruben Ugarte's Growth Needle™ • 0 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Deciding What to Work On

QUALITY BOSS • 0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

Avoid red flags in an early stage startup

An Ode to Restlessness • 0 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy
  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.

I love you Tough Tom, but you were wrong on 1st and goal

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 12
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. In a key moment of the game, the strategy of when to score is really important. The Giants didn't play it smart by scoring a touchdown instead of just getting in a position to kick a field goal.
  2. If the Giants had chosen to kneel at the one-yard line, they would have had a much better chance of winning. It's all about reducing risk and thinking strategically.
  3. Coaches often stick to traditional tactics instead of trying new strategies, even if those could lead to better outcomes. Changing how they think could really improve their chances of winning in the future.

Thanksgiving Briefing Book, Part III: Strategies

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Strategy
  1. Have a plan for Thanksgiving to make the day go smoothly. Being organized helps everyone enjoy the time together.
  2. Communicate with family and friends about what they can bring or contribute. This makes everyone feel involved and happy.
  3. Be flexible and ready to adapt if things don't go as planned. Sometimes, unexpected moments can make the day more special.

Your own wikileak cable

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 10
🎭️ Culture Strategy
  1. The game 'Diplomacy' is special because winning relies more on negotiation than just strategy on the board. You have to really work with others to succeed.
  2. Playing the game online brings a new level of intrigue because all conversations happen through messages, making it feel more secretive and strategic.
  3. The online format allows for longer times between moves, which encourages deeper conversations and planning among players, enhancing the overall experience.

A hard way to make an easy living

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jul 10
🎭️ Culture Strategy
  1. Emotion control is key in poker. Staying calm helps you make better decisions and avoid losing money.
  2. Playing at comfortable stakes is important. If you're worried about the money, it's harder to think clearly.
  3. Find joy in the game beyond just winning money. Enjoying the puzzles and challenges keeps you engaged and focused.

Will our children even understand this ad?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jun 10
🎾 Sports Strategy
  1. Soccer commentators are refreshingly honest and openly discuss players' performance, unlike many American sports announcers. It's nice to hear them call the game like fans would, without worrying about offending anyone.
  2. American sports have issues like stopping the game for fouls, which leads to whining. In soccer and rugby, players need to keep moving, so there's less time to complain and more focus on playing.
  3. Kick strategy in soccer puzzles some people. Goalkeepers often kick far down the field, which sometimes leads to losing possession, but it can put the team in a better attacking position if done right.

Are you loud enough in your business? 📣

Business & Marketing with Nika • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Being authentic helps you connect with your audience. When you're true to yourself, like-minded people will notice and engage.
  2. Adding value in your communications is key. Sharing helpful tips or advice can make a positive impact on someone else's success.
  3. Finding the right balance in your posting is important. Too much content might overwhelm some people, so be intentional about how often you share.

Financial Management: Introduction

Logos • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 20
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Always focus on results in your work. It's important to show how your actions led to success, whether that's through numbers or other methods.
  2. Identify what really drives your business success. Track those important factors so you can influence them effectively.
  3. It's not enough just to track results; you need to have a plan on how to improve them. Without taking action, just watching numbers doesn't help.

Vanishing into the near future

do clouds feel vertigo? • 0 implied HN points • 17 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Strategy
  1. Chinese strategists view the future more like music, feeling the rhythm and anticipating changes rather than trying to predict exact outcomes. This means adapting quickly to the present situation.
  2. Traditional Chinese thought emphasizes a holistic view of knowledge, where understanding is about sensing interconnections and relationships rather than focusing on isolated parts. It's about seeing the bigger picture.
  3. The concept of 'vanishing into things' encourages letting go of rigid perspectives. By flowing with circumstances and understanding subtle cues, one can navigate challenges more effectively.

Road to 1M ARR - July Update

The Road to 1 Million ARR • 0 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Introducing a free plan for Simple Analytics is expected to attract more users. The goal is to let people experience the product, which could lead to more paid subscriptions down the line.
  2. Balancing product development with growth strategies is crucial. By alternating between weeks focused on product and growth, the team can aim to improve their conversion rates and overall business success.
  3. Focusing on writing engaging content is important. There's a desire to move away from just SEO-focused writing and create more interesting and valuable content for the audience.

✅ Monday briefing: Obscuring print data, Government FOI review, UK AI strategy, PR talent market, office return data, content analyser, Zuck image washing, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 21
💼 Business Strategy
  1. The UK government is reviewing its Freedom of Information unit after concerns about transparency were raised. This change aims to improve how information is shared with the public.
  2. The UK is experiencing a strong job market in public relations, with many employers needing to adapt to the new employee-focused landscape. This means job seekers have more power than before.
  3. There's a push for better tools in PR and marketing, with new digital solutions and social media tools being introduced. These aim to help professionals analyze content and improve their strategies.

The Compressed Tech Life Cycle: The Managerial Challenge

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 15
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Tech companies have a faster life cycle than other businesses, meaning they can quickly go from growth to decline. Managers need to adapt their strategies to fit this speed.
  2. When managing a tech firm, it's important to accept the short life cycle and focus on growth, debt management, and returning cash to shareholders when needed.
  3. To extend a tech company's lifespan, managers can innovate new products, change their business model, and create barriers for competitors, but they must be careful not to create public or legal backlash.

If we don't do it, our competitors will! Defensive Dealmaking or Panicky Preemption?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 14
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Companies often buy other businesses to prevent competitors from gaining an edge. This strategy, called defensive dealmaking, can sometimes be risky and expensive.
  2. For a defensive acquisition to be worth it, the company must be valuable, the threat must be real, and the deal should be the most cost-effective option.
  3. It’s not always the best idea to act quickly just because others might; sometimes doing nothing is the smarter choice and can save a lot of money.

Acquisition Alchemy: Creating value from deals

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 12
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Acquiring smaller companies tends to lead to better success than merging with larger ones. Smaller targets usually come with less integration issues.
  2. It's important to assess the true value of a target company before making an offer. Paying too much can ruin a good acquisition, so understanding what you're paying for is key.
  3. Having a solid plan for after the acquisition is crucial. Integration needs resources and clear strategies for success, or the deal may not work out.

How we priced our AI SaaS product (and the mistakes we avoided)

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Pricing needs to maximize revenue while keeping cash flow stable. Companies should seek to charge what customers are willing to pay without running out of money.
  2. There are different pricing models to consider for AI products. Usage-based or subscription models can create various incentives for both the customer and the company.
  3. Understanding how customers derive value from a product is crucial. The pricing model should support delivering that value easily, making it convenient for customers to use the service without worrying about costs.

A simple email that drives more adoption from customers

CommandBlogue • 0 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Sending emails when new users join a team can boost product adoption. This simple tactic keeps everyone in the loop and encourages others to use the product.
  2. Seeing teammates use a product creates a sense of urgency to adopt it. People want to stay connected and not fall behind their colleagues.
  3. This approach uses social proof, which is when people do something because they see others doing it. It's a powerful way to motivate users to engage with a product.

Strategies for different uncertainties

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Organizations struggle to handle uncertainty despite it being crucial for success. They need clear ways to think and act when facing unknowns.
  2. Even those who understand uncertainty need tools to persuade others in their organization to engage with it effectively.
  3. Different types of not-knowing exist, and recognizing these differences helps organizations make better decisions and adapt more easily.

OKRs and Roadmaps: Understanding the Difference and How to Use Them Together

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 0 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. OKRs are goals that help teams measure their progress, while roadmaps are plans that outline how those goals will be achieved. They work best when used together.
  2. A Key Result should have initiatives attached to it, which are specific actions you can take to achieve that goal, like improving website load times.
  3. Roadmaps help prioritize tasks and track progress towards OKRs. They allow teams to see how their projects contribute to overall goals, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

Unlock Your Team’s Full Potential with OKRs!

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 0 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. OKRs, or Objectives and Key Results, help teams set clear goals and measure progress. They keep everyone focused on what really matters.
  2. Using OKRs can align your team with the company's strategy, ensuring everyone is working toward the same objectives. This alignment is crucial for effective execution.
  3. Regularly reviewing your OKRs, like monthly check-ins, helps track how well the team is doing and allows for adjustments if necessary. It's all about staying flexible and learning from the process.

The Importance of a Strong Team Mission Statement

The Healthy Engineering Leader • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jan 23
💼 Business Strategy
  1. A clear mission statement helps your team know what they’re trying to achieve and why it matters. It guides decisions and keeps everyone aligned.
  2. It's important that your team's mission matches the overall goals of the company. This creates unity and ensures everyone's efforts contribute to the bigger picture.
  3. Creating a good mission statement involves teamwork. Gather input from your team to make sure it reflects everyone's ideas and is easy to understand.

Welcome to the It Depends / Nimble Autonomy newsletter

It Depends / Nimble Autonomy • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. Taking time for personal strategy is important. Setting a day aside to think and plan can help you focus on your goals without distractions.
  2. Reflect on your past experiences and what you’ve learned to create effective plans. This means considering what worked well and what didn’t in your team and work before and during any big changes.
  3. Building a regular practice of strategic thinking helps you stay adaptable. It’s good to revisit your plans regularly and adjust them based on new insights or changes in your situation.

Level Up Your RevOps Career

beyondrevenueoperations • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
💼 Business Strategy
  1. RevOps is key to business success, bringing sales, marketing, and customer success teams together to grow revenue. Choosing the right career path in RevOps can greatly influence your impact.
  2. There are two main paths in RevOps: the technical path, which focuses on data analysis and tools, and the strategic path, which emphasizes revenue strategy and leadership. Each path offers unique opportunities and challenges.
  3. Combining technical and strategic skills can create a powerful professional. This 'T-shaped' skillset helps you make better decisions and improve business outcomes.