Surviving Execution Mark H. Pavlidis @mhp 2015-04-08 DemoCamp Hamilton 20
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