03 Dec Excerpt From My Strategy Book

Excerpt from my upcoming book on Strategy:

…Everyone thinks. Thinking isn’t the problem. It’s not about intelligence, IQ, or education.

The real challenge is how we think. Most people are never taught to think strategically, critically, or systemically. So the struggle isn’t a lack of ability — it’s a lack of the right approach.

When the approach is off, people fall into predictable thinking traps:

• They think in straight lines, not in systems.

• They rely on old assumptions instead of questioning them.

• They depend on cultural norms that may no longer be relevant.

• They react to what’s urgent instead of reflecting on what’s important.

• They accumulate information but fail to extract insight.

• They rush into decisions without understanding context.

Thinking is natural. Strategic thinking is developed.

And even when people do think, they often think linearly — focusing on isolated details rather than patterns, causes, and consequences. Instead of connecting dots, they simply follow a straight line.

High performers think differently:

• They think critically.

• They challenge assumptions, evaluate evidence, and separate signal from noise.

• They think strategically — zooming out, making connections, anticipating impact, and aligning today’s actions with tomorrow’s goals…