Good morning!
Last week, we talked about “The Gap”.
That’s the trap that too many strategies fall into between theory and action.
You might be taking a lot of actions, but you aren’t making real progress.
That’s “The Gap” in action.
Vague busyness, but not impact.
Last week, I described it.
This week, I want you to see it for yourself.
I wanted to share a self-diagnostic that maps to the 5 points of my “Strategy Compass.”
This quick diagnostic will help you see “The Gap” in your own business.
Compass Gap Scan:
2 questions per layer.
Rate yourself on a scale of 0-10.
0 is the worst. 10 is “nailed it.”
- True North (Success Clarity):
- How precisely does your success definition go beyond vague goals like “grow” or “profit? Does it include specific, measurable outcomes that account for economic wildcards? Do you have a grand ambition for your business? (Score 0-10)
- Is your vision of success exciting yet realistic, forcing trade-offs, or does it let you chase everything without focus? (Score 0-10)
- True Customer (Buyer Focus):
- Can you pinpoint your real buyer (e.g., not “businesses,” but “mid-market CEOs in volatile sectors”) with their exact pains and behaviors? (Score 0-10)
- How unique is your customer profile? Does it overlap heavily with competitors, or carve out a defensible niche? (Score 0-10)
- True Value (“Why Us?” Prop):
- What irreplaceable transformation do you deliver that generics can’t touch? Test: If rivals copied it, would you still dominate because they can’t keep their promise? (Score 0-10)
- Is your value prop pressure-tested against market noise? Does it blend into “innovative” fluff? (Score 0-10)
- True Leverage (Resources):
- Have you inventoried adaptable assets (e.g., networks, IP) that hedge against debt or volatility, beyond the obvious? (Score 0-10)
- How scalable are your resources in a shaky economy? (Score 0-10)
- True Actions (Execution):
- Are your steps directly linked to the layers above, with clear milestones, or scattered reactions to daily fires? (Score 0-10)
- Do your actions prioritize high-impact bets over busywork? Measuring effectiveness, not just activity? (Score 0-10)
Add a layer to your diagnostic by adding some context to “WHY?” you’ve answered the questions the way that you did.
Scoring Analysis (Embed as a simple table or bullets):
- 80-100: Powerhouse: your Compass is humming; amplify with deeper layers.
- 50-79: Spotty: gaps in honesty could fuel generics; tune up True North first.
- 0-49: “The Gap” Exists: you’re in zombie territory; quick wins might mask ineffective busyness.
Score low?
Leave your score in the comments section and I’ll do a quick fix in next week’s newsletter.
Scored your Gap?
Don’t stop! Turn it into action.
Sign up for the free 60-minute True North Tune-Up at the Link!
Homework: Complete/refine the diagnostic above + jot your ‘why’ notes.
Bring ‘em live for group feedback and your upgraded North.”
The next one is Tuesday, November 18th at 1 PM Eastern.
Spots fill up fast!