Strategy is a compass, not a map

Strategy is a compass, not a map

Defining the word “strategy” can be a tricky thing, and it often gets rolled into “tactics” a bit. In a recent podcast episode with Greg McKeown, Seth Godin laid it out rather well:

Strategy is a philosophy of becoming. It is your way of thinking about who you seek to serve and the change you seek to make. Strategy is a compass, it’s not a map. When the world changes, your strategy might not.

The map certainly will, your tactics will. But a strategy is the thing you get to lean against that is your North Star, where you’re headed.

I thought that was a great way to look at things.

Your business has a strategy, and that strategy likely shouldn’t change very often. However, as the world shifts around us (new social media platforms, the growth of AI, etc), you can adjust the map and change your tactics. When the dust settles, you can pull out your compass and find your bearings to keep pushing toward the same goal in the new terrain.