Why “Are We Winning?” Is the Wrong Question

Near the end of a strategy session, a senior leader asked: “Are we winning?”

On paper, the answer was yes. Profits were up, targets exceeded, and bonuses for all around the table.

But under the surface, below leadership levels were burnout, broken collaboration, and stalled innovation.

Too many execs confuse short-term success with long-term strength. They measure what’s easy like monthly revenue and quarterly growth.

As a result, they miss key elements that matter like momentum, alignment, and adaptability.

This isn’t rare, in fact, it’s becoming the norm. Companies burn through talent and ideas chasing KPIs. By the time they feel the pain, it’s too late.

Real strategy is not a scoreboard. It’s a system. And it’s only “winning” if it builds durability.

If you’ve ever asked “Are we winning?”, ask this instead: Is the way we’re winning sustainable? Because the scoreboard may say yes. But if the locker room’s broken, you’re already losing.

In my latest video, I dive into some of the traps of spreadsheet strategy that hinder long-term growth and how to build a lasting business.

Startups, corporates, it doesn’t matter. I've seen great ideas crash from not thinking a few moves ahead. That’s why I built the Straightforward Strategy Blueprint, a FREE template so your idea doesn’t become another could-have-been. Get it here.

Keep building, keep going 🚀