strategy stack Archives - Wakeman Consulting Group

Vanity Fair Used to Be a Party…

I’ve been a Vanity Fair fan for years. A long-time subscriber. I read Dana Brown’s book on the Graydon Carter era in one sitting. I have a fondness for the magazine and the things it represents: glamour, intelligence, Hollywood. I’m not someone throwing rocks at an easy target. I’m a fan who wants to know […]

From Flailing to Focused: An Extraction Economy Manifesto

From Flailing to Focused You know the feeling. Things feel okay. The numbers look fine. Your board isn’t panicking. But there is something you can’t shake. A weight. An unease. A sense that the foundation isn’t as solid as the spreadsheets suggest. You’ve moved the numbers around. Highlighted different metrics. Told a new twist on […]

Intent vs. Volume: The Trade-Off No One Talks About

You can’t be everything to everyone. This is the battle of modern business. Chasing volume. But sliding into the realm of being a commodity. You have to make a trade: volume or intent. Volume alone isn’t a strategy. Mass market is fine. Just make sure it is your choice. If you don’t, that’s drift. Dressed […]

The Three Mirages: Why Organizations Chase the Wrong Targets

There’s a feeling we are all familiar with. Working hard. Growing. Adding clients. Opening offices. Can’t quite keep up. But something feels off. Like you are chasing something elusive. Likely a mirage…I’ve identified three that seduce more organizations than anything else. The Money Mirage: “Growth” becomes “success.” Revenue. Headcount. New markets. New offices. Measurable. Addictive. […]

Your Strategy is Probably Backwards: The Strategy Stack

Last week, I taught you about CFA: Choice. Focus. Action. The three movements of execution. Strategy expressed. Here’s the thing: there’s a series of decisions you need to make before you get to CFA. Too many organizations jump right to action. Motion feels like strategy. It’s not. Then wonder why they’re drifting. To make CFA […]