Map or GPS; how to find your way.

Navigating business strategy is a bit like a road trip.  You need to plan ahead, pay attention at each turn, and reflect on how you got there in case you need to adjust for the next trip.

My family likes to take road trips.  I combine a business meeting with a long weekend and suddenly you have a mini family vacation.

I usually do most of the driving using my trusty GPS as a navigator.  I tell it where I want to go and it tells me every time to turn until I arrive.  That’s basically it, but here is how it really goes.

1. We plan our basic route ahead of time trying to predict what city we may drive to before sleeping for the night.
2. Before we leave, we program our desired destination into our GPS.
3. As we drive, my wife looks at an atlas to see if the route makes sense and if there is another way that may be more fun or faster.  Sometimes you pass within miles of the largest ball of duct tape and the GPS will just route you right past.
4. When we get really close to the destination, we rely on our GPS to get us to the front door.
5. After we arrive, we look at the time and reflect on the difference in our expectations and reality.  Sometimes a long stop for lunch at the local roadside attraction will hurt your time, but it was worth it.

In business strategy, we need to take a similar approach.

1. Layout a roadmap and anticipate the stops along the way.  Consider your milestones and the adjustments you need to be ready for.
2. Use a tool to track your steps.  If it’s a notepad or Basecamp, execute the current task and look ahead to the next.
3. Compare the progress of your steps with the overall plan.  Are there opportunities or challenges you need to adjust for?
4. When coming in to land, pay attention to the final steps closely or all that work will hit just off the mark
5. When it’s all said and done, review your plan and discuss how changes along the way may have effected both the timing and the result.