Surviving Execution

Mark H. Pavlidis @mhp

2015-04-08 DemoCamp Hamilton 20

Motivation

Definitions

Execution: • the process where work is produced

Strategy: • high level plan to achieve one or more goals

under conditions of uncertainty

– Michael E. Porter, Professor @ HBS

“Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be

different.”

How To Make Choices

– Linus Pauling, Chemist

“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.”

Brainstorming

Ideation Without Critical Thinking

is Wasteful

– Socrates, Philosopher

“I know that I know nothing”

– Mark H. Pavlidis, Maker

“I know nothing”

Socratic Method

Stockdale Paradox

You must retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties.

AND at the same time…

You must confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.

Stockdale ParadoxSu

rviv

al

Optimism

Hope Despair

– Yogi Berra

“It ain’t over till it’s over”

Luck = Preparation ⋂ Opportunity

Stress CurvePe

rform

ance

Pressure

Lazy Burnout

Uncomfortable Fatigue

Everything is a

Tradeoff

Perspective

How do you boil the ocean?

Products are Puzzles

Summary

• Strategy is about choosing the best tradeoff

• Question everything - from all perspectives

• Survival is long term thinking and patience

• Choose a slice - zoom in and focus execution

Surviving Execution

Mark H. Pavlidis @mhp

2015-04-08 DemoCamp Hamilton 20