Beyond the Boring Blueprint: Alex Smith on Strategies that Inspire and Motivate

Show notes

In this episode of Marketing Spark, we're excited to have Alex Smith, the i author of "No Bullshit Strategy" and the founder of BasicArts.org.

Alex challenges the status quo, believing strategy should be motivating and straightforward rather than complex and dull.

He illustrates how simplicity and inspiration can lead to incredible business achievements through captivating stories and real-life examples.

This episode is more than just a deep dive into strategic theories; it's a thought-provoking discussion filled with Alex's enthusiasm and practical insights; it's perfect for B2B and SaaS business and marketing leaders looking to revitalize their approach to strategy.

Key takeaways

A strategy only works if it is interesting enough that the people who must carry it out remember it, get motivated by it, and act on it. A technically correct strategy nobody executes is worthless.

Write the strategy as a short prose document with the argument first, then the strategy statement, then the specific actions that follow. The story is what makes people remember it and buy in.

Test a strategy by asking whether an outside observer could work out your strategy just by looking at your business. If not, it doesn't exist yet, however well you explain it internally.

Embedding a strategy takes about six months of practice, and someone needs to be the person who keeps asking how each decision fits it. Only about 30% of core teams have that discipline on their own.

Strategy is about 50% being right and 50% inspiring action. Alex's LinkedIn growth came from asking whether each post would leave readers feeling good and empowered, plus using hooky titles so people would read it.

Beyond the Boring Blueprint: Alex Smith on Strategies that Inspire and Motivate

Show notes

Tell me what's going on with your marketing.