Strategy is not the plan.

Strategy is not the plan.

And yet it is often confused with exactly that.

Strategy is not a sequence of strategic projects or measures.

Strategy is the compass.

A compass clearly aligned with a vision of the future.

Two things must work together in that vision:

🔧 Exploit – use what exists efficiently

🧭 Explore – discover the new with courage

Alexander Osterwalder makes the point in The Invincible Company:

Successful companies invest around 1% of their organisation in genuine work on the future.

In practical terms:

– With 5,000 employees: 50 people.

– With 500 employees: still 5.

Five people who spend all day doing nothing but pursuing innovative ideas – with a clear understanding:

These ideas are allowed to fail.

Because that is precisely part of the success DNA of such companies.

✅ Those who only exploit die slowly.

✅ Those who only explore fail quickly.

Strategic success needs both – and, above all, clarity about WHERE TO.

How do you maintain the balance between Exploit & Explore?

I look forward to your perspectives.

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