Differentiation
This week's edition of Idea Surplus Disorder by Matthew Homann includes an absolutely amazing quote from Roger Martin that EVERY single law firm Managing Partner should have pinned on their wall:
"Since strategy is the act of making distinctive choices that position your organization uniquely to win, by definition a choice the opposite of which is stupid on its face is not a strategy choice.
For example, the opposite of the choice to be customer-centric is to ignore customers entirely, which is stupid on its face. Only a regulated monopoly — like the Department of Motor Vehicles — can ignore its customers entirely and survive. Similarly, either being operationally pathetic or disinvesting in talent is also stupid on its face. The only positive thing that can be said about those choices is that they aren’t stupid. And as such, you can be highly confident that all your consequential competitors will be making that same choice — i.e. to be customer-centric, operationally effective and to invest in their talent."
You need to learn how to differentiate yourself; and as Roger Martin says, being "customer centric", "operationally effective" or "investing in your talent" is only differentiating yourself from firms going out of business.
Welcome to another edition of Idea Surplus Disorder. I’m Matt Homann, the founder of Filament, and I’m glad you’re here! I'll be off in Ca
