Welcome to all you Leaders In Strategy! Stop trying to be the "Best" & start being the "Only".

In this insightful podcast episode , I am joined by strategy consultant Alex Smith, author of "No Bullshit Strategy" and we challenge conventional wisdom and offer a practical, accessible approach to strategic thinking that will transform the way you view your business.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Redefining Business Strategy: Learn Alex's concise and actionable definition of business strategy, moving beyond vague theoretical concepts to a practical framework for growth.

• The "Pig and Lipstick" Analogy: Discover why focusing on product improvement ("the pig") is far more effective than solely relying on marketing ("lipstick") for long-term success.

• Identifying Your Business's "Identity": Understand how to uncover your business's inherent strengths and leverage them for sustainable growth, rather than trying to be something you're not.

• The "Opposites Test" for Strategic Thinking: Learn Alex's unique "opposites test" to determine if your idea is a genuine strategy or just a mimicry of competitors.

• "Refusing to Compete": Explore the counterintuitive concept of achieving competitive advantage by not directly competing, focusing instead on differentiation and symbiotic market share.

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Where to find Alex:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith

Website: https://basicarts.org/

Where to buy his excellent book, No Bullsh*t Strategy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Bullsh-Strategy-Founders-Actually/dp/1803136510/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1694549953&sr=8-1

Homework Link to Alex's Ultimate Strategy Template: https://basicarts.org/newsletter/

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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To find out more, visit my website https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775