Operations are not just about optimizing resources, and strategy is much deeper than just a plan. But the bridge between them is what actually matters. Strategies are made to grow a company, compete in the market, and reach the company’s vision. While operations are put in place to ensure that the strategy is keeping up with its promised destination. Although, the (way) you want to strategize something will greatly influence the (ways) you operate your business. For example, If you want to differentiate your product, you cannot operate on low costs, and vice versa. When both teams are functioning on two different and contradictory paths, the company will start losing its identity and value proposition – which are the two pillars of strategies, while also losing money and time internally – which are the two pillars of operations.
Successful businesses are always bridging these two elements together and ensuring that day-to-day activities and tactical decisions are guided by the long-term vision and direction set by the organization’s strategic plan. Let’s reflect business on life. That sense of alignment goes beyond business, it also reflects upon our personal lives and how we human-beings function when making our decisions.
The First Paradox | Finding Yourself Individuals who didn’t set a plan yet, tend to swing back and forth, left and right thinking that they are discovering themselves, wasting their precious time and resources on careers, things and people they are not sure about. I know it’s a very hard pill to swallow, but anything purposeful in life must be created, not found. The magical driver piece is consistency, if you keep maintaining anything right, you will start being good at it, when you’re good at it, you’ll start liking it, when you like it, you’ll start putting your heart and soul towards it, and finally fall in love with it. You don’t need the feeling or passion at first to start something special or great.
The Second Paradox | The pursuit of lifestyle, not a life Many Individuals have a vision and a plan to reach it, but take very bad decisions. Mainly because they have bad management and planning of their resources. They are not aware of their limits, constraints and take action based on feelings, not logical sense. Even if you know where you want to end up or what kind of life you want to have, that does not make it attainable unless you act right, considering current situations and logic. Move the correct way, not the faster way. The
Third Paradox | Identity Crises The more aligned with what and who you actually are, the more productive and comfortable you will be to function. When you try being something or someone that is against your identity, you start losing your path to your desired vision. Things will feel out of control, and clear paths will start getting foggy. Be true to yourself, that’s your value proposition.