Running a business without strategy is like driving your car without a clear destination and map to get there. It is both confusing and inefficient. Business isn’t something you make up as you go along. The leader needs ensure he/she is well informed about external industry dynamics and the needed related internal capabilities. The best leaders anticipate, then create the future using a well-informed strategy to make it happen. They also ensure everyone in the organization is clear about this direction and why it’s important.
What Are You Not Seeing? Strategic Blind Spots Every CEO Should Address Every once in a while, I like to interrupt the flow of one of my Vistage meetings or…
The Growth Trap There is a dangerous assumption many business owners make when things start moving in the right direction. They see revenue increasing, backlog growing, new opportunities appearing, the…
If you are looking for a leadership adaptability assessment for CEOs, a practical executive self-assessment for change leadership,…
This Leadership Business Plan is designed to help leaders capture the most critical elements of their strategy on…
During a Vistage coaching session today, I revisited a tool I’ve used many times over the years. It…
Growth Regardless of Obstacles: How Small Business Leaders Build Sustainable Growth in Any Economy Growing a business is…
The underlying principle is simple and deliberate: a plan that’s too big to explain is too big to…
My Journey with Capacity Building: A Look Back Before Looking Forward Recently, I was going back through my…
The central thesis is that risk management is not merely a defensive tactic but a strategic imperative essential…
A Strategic Plan You’ll Actually Use (Not Just Admire) Most strategic plans end up as shelf décor—impressive, wordy,…
When the market shifts, you’ve got two choices: cling to the old plan or make a smarter one.…
Real growth comes from strong basics executed consistently—clear goals, a tight customer focus, a reliable sales rhythm, clean…
Business Contingency Planning Made Simple Leaders always need to be thinking in terms of contingencies and scenarios. Hope…
See around corners—before the market turns them. This practical guide helps you pressure-test your strategy against real-world “what…
The economy you’re operating in isn’t “normal.” It’s a structural shift: tighter credit, higher rates, workforce constraints, geopolitical…
Central Thesis Leadership is layered, not linear. Enduring organizations align several layers—self‑leadership, team development, clear strategy, disciplined execution,…
Introduction Leadership, whether of a startup; Small, mid-sized, or large firm; team; church; or any organization, must work…
Strategy Is No Longer a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline and We’ve Created a Playbook Running a business without a…
Mastering the Building Blocks of Strategy A Practical Blueprint for Building Enduring Competitive Advantage Many leaders find themselves…
The winners over the next 3–5 years won’t be the ones with the fanciest tech or the biggest…
How Strategy Champions Win: Turning Bold Ideas Into Market Power “A good strategy honestly acknowledges the challenges being…
Growth by itself isn’t the goal. Sustainable, balanced growth that outperforms your market and strengthens your business foundation—that’s…
Introduction – Business Lifecycle This document outlines essential assessment questions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tailored to each distinct stage of a…
Introduction: Small business owners must continuously evolve, adapt, and refine their strategies. Crafting a solid strategy is only…
“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein Running a business is never a straight line.…
Contingency planning isn’t about living in fear. It’s about being smart. It’s about protecting what you’ve worked so…
Armstrong walks you through the layered approach, showing how great leaders don't just build businesses; they build other…
The New Makers of Modern Strategy reminds leaders that strategy isn’t a binder—it’s a living set of choices…
This assessment turns organizational design from ad-hoc tinkering into a repeatable, evidence-based decision. It shows where your structure…
By understanding and addressing the stages of hubris born of success, undisciplined pursuit of more, denial of risk…
The transition from good to great is not easy, but it is possible with the right mindset, leadership,…
By understanding the nature of illusions, their causes, and strategies for addressing them, managers and leaders can foster…
Bring the decision you've been circling. The problem you haven't said out loud. The one you've been carrying alone.
Ed’s frameworks, the occasional hard-won lesson, and what he’s reading. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
