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If you can't describe your strategy in twenty minutes, simply and in plain language, you haven't got a plan. 'But,' people may say, 'I've got a complex strategy. It can't be reduced to a page.' That's nonsense. That's not a complex strategy. It's a complex thought about the strategy.
Lawrence Bossidy
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Interpretation

What this quote means

A successful strategy should be clear and simple enough to explain in a short time.

This quote emphasizes that effective strategies should be easily understandable and not overly complicated. If someone cannot convey their strategy in straightforward language, it suggests that the strategy itself may not be well-defined or actionable. The distinction between a complex strategy and a complex thought about a strategy highlights the importance of clarity and simplicity in leadership and planning.

Themes

StrategyLeadershipClarityPlanningSimplicity

In practice

Example use cases

A CEO delivering a presentation on their company's direction at a shareholder meeting.

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