At its core, strategy is not a declaration of intent. It is a discipline of focus, one which requires sacrifice. Wocktail #9, the NoGroni, captures the heart of strategic work: tradeoffs.
One of the most challenging yet essential aspects of strategic planning is facing tradeoffs. This is where ambition is forced to confront real constraints: limited time, capital, talent, and/or operational capacity. Avoiding to prioritize is not an option.
Too often, many strategies become unbounded aspirations:
✅ Enter new markets while deepening presence in existing ones.
✅ Scale aggressively while remaining bespoke and high-touch.
✅ Innovate boldly while driving consistency.
True strategy lives not in promises but in the choices made, especially the difficult ones. The process demands clear boundaries around what will not be pursued, now or indefinitely. Strategy takes shape through exclusions; the sharper the definition, the more is set aside.
Organizations that succeed understand the necessity of these decisions. They recognize that every “yes” without a corresponding “no” dilutes focus, stretches resources, and erodes coherence. The discomfort that these decisions create is not a flaw in the process; it is the very essence of strategy.
Key questions that surface strategic discipline:
✅ What opportunities will not advance?
✅ Which segments are not core to the current value proposition?
✅ What initiatives will be consciously paused, delayed, or stopped; and why?
When these questions are avoided or softened, strategy becomes ineffective and ultimately forgettable. A solid strategy is not a masterplan for doing everything better. It is a commitment to doing the right things with intensity; and having the conviction to intentionally let go of the rest.
💡 Strategy is a function of clarity, courage and focus. Without courage, clarity is impossible. Without clarity, focus is lost. Without focus, strategy is meaningless.