PTW/PI All-Stars Book Club – Chapter Sixteen

Founder takeaway

Test whether each strategic choice has a credible opposite. If the alternative is obviously foolish, you may be stating a universal aspiration rather than making a real choice with trade-offs.

Why it matters

Strategy directs scarce resources only when it rules out plausible alternatives. Making trade-offs explicit improves focus and gives teams clearer guidance for everyday decisions.

Relevant guides

Put it to work

Take one current priority and write its opposite. Could a capable competitor rationally choose that alternative? If not, rewrite your priority to specify what you will pursue—and what you will decline.