So what exactly is HOW? For many, business and life has…
““So what exactly is HOW? For many, business and life has always been about the pursuit of What: “What do we do? What’s on the agenda? What do we need to accomplish?” Whats are commodities; they are easily duplicated or reverse-engineered and delivered faster and at a lower cost by someone else. How is a philosophy. It's a way of thinking about individual and organizational behavior. And How we do what we do – our behavior – has become today’s greatest source of our advantage. In this world, How is no longer a question, but the answer to what ails us as people, institutions, companies, nations. How we behave, how we consume, how we build trust in our relationships and how we relate to others provides us with the power to not just survive, but thrive and endure.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
“How” is the strategic advantage—our behaviors and processes—while “What” are the commodifiable outputs.
In simple terms: How is behavior, What is product.
Key Takeaway
Focus on improving processes.
Themes
strategy
behavior
innovation
Mood
analytical
motivational
Type
business
philosophical
When to use this quote
- business strategy sessions
- product development
- personal productivity
Key Concepts
process philosophy
competitive advantage
organizational culture
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you shift focus from What to How?
- What habits give you a competitive edge?