Seneca The Younger Was Alive About The
Same Time As Christ… And He Was A Business Strategist…
He lived from 4BC to 65AD, which is a long time in that era. He seemed to be a guy with a good head for thinking.
Today I was reminded of a translation of a quote from him which says:
“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.”
Dude! So 2000 years ago – a Roman nails the very core of strategic planning. Without a destination, your choice of tactics in sailing your boat is irrelevant. Put up the mainsail, tighten the jib, tack, do any of the sailing stuff – makes no difference.
And if you go out sailing, with no destination or cause in mind, then the only place you will predictably go – is back where you came from. You are on a boomerang trajectory. The driving power of your destination is turned into a vacuum that eventually stops you and then returns you. So make sure that your goal is to enjoy your sailing – not to get somewhere better.
If you business has no destination – you are likely going to get what you got last week, or year or decade. Your choices of tactics are not tied to a direction that will reward you. And – even worse – if you do not know the “end game” of your business – your strategic choices will ensure your mediocre business end.
Or if you go to the gym. Do you wander around and focus on trying to “enjoy” the workouts? Or are you consistently working to transform your body to be able to convey you increasingly well as time lays down decade after decade on you? Or to look great in very defined ways? Or to become better at your sport or activity? If you can allow yourself to be open to creating a “destination” to guide your selection of workouts – you jump several levels on the “Strategic Ladder”.
Not everything needs to have a destination selected. Just the important things.