3 Signs Your Game Plan is All Wrong

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Today’s Read

Overview

Richard Rumelt dives right in with a blunt truth: most “strategies” aren’t strategies at all. They’re wish lists—big goals without real direction. Rumelt’s book is all about fixing this problem and understanding what a true strategy looks like.

His formula for good strategy (the “Kernel”):

1. Diagnosis – Find the real problem. Without this, solutions are just guesswork.

2. Guiding Policy – Set a clear, actionable principle to steer every choice.

3. Coherent Actions – Take specific, interconnected steps that work together, not just random efforts.

Big Idea: Rumelt shows us that real strategy is practical and grounded, focused on solving problems with clear, achievable actions. It's a refreshingly straightforward approach to making meaningful progress, especially if you’re tired of vague “growth” goals. Get the book here.

Why Most “Strategies” Aren’t Really Strategy

Richard Rumelt’s Core Argument: Most "strategies" fail because they’re more like wish lists than actionable plans.

Think of it this way: strategy should mean more than just setting goals. But often, companies announce a bunch of objectives—“We aim to be the best!” or “Our goal is growth!”—without a clear path to get there.

Rumelt calls this “fluff.”

Fluff is the enemy of good strategy: it’s filled with buzzwords but lacks any real direction.