--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essential element of successful…" description: "\"The essential element of successful strategy is that it derives its success from the differences between competitors with a consequent difference in th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png" --- # The essential element of successful strategy is that it… ![“The essential element of successful strategy is that it derives its success from the differences between competitors with a consequent difference in their behavior.” quote by Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png) > “The essential element of successful strategy is that it derives its success from the differences between competitors with a consequent difference in their behavior.” [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Successful strategy hinges on exploiting differences between competitors, leading to distinct behaviors. **In simple terms:** Strategy wins by leveraging unique competitive advantages. Key Takeaway Differentiate to succeed. Themes strategy competition differentiation Mood strategic confident Type business analytical When to use this quote - strategy development - business planning Key Concepts competitive analysis behavioral economics market positioning Questions to Reflect On - What unique strengths set you apart? - How can you adapt when competitors copy your differences? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on differences can ignore collaboration opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [“Winning is what matters—and it is the ultimate criterion of a successful strategy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-lafley/winning-is-what-matters-and-it-is-the-ultimate-criterion-of-a/) [A.G. Lafley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-lafley/) > [The Japanese, implementing a complex, long-term, and ultimately successful strategy to dominate the U S consumer-electronics market, attacked Pearl Harbor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/the-japanese-implementing-a-complex-long-term-and-ultimately/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [ After 9/11, it became clear that we \[the United States\] had to do several things to have a successful strategy to win the global… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/after-9-11-it-became-clear-that-we-the-united-states-had-to-do/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Any corporate policy and plan which is typical of the industry is doomed to mediocrity. Where this is not so, it should be possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/any-corporate-policy-and-plan-which-is-typical-of-the-industry-is/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [As a competitor and an athlete, you love that you get to go back and challenge someone, especially the world champs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-romo/as-a-competitor-and-an-athlete-you-love-that-you-get-to-go-back-and/) [Tony Romo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-romo/) > [I've got to know my strength and weaknesses and the same for my competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-buchanan/i-ve-got-to-know-my-strength-and-weaknesses-and-the-same-for-my/) [Caroline Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-buchanan/) > [Many manufacturers secretly question whether advertising really sells their product, but are vaguely afraid that their competitors might steal a march on them if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ogilvy/many-manufacturers-secretly-question-whether-advertising-really-sells/) [David Ogilvy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ogilvy/) > [I learn from all our major competitors, whether they're in or out of the U.S. Wells Fargo is very actively, very aggressively, and very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dimon/i-learn-from-all-our-major-competitors-whether-they-re-in-or-out-of/) [Jamie Dimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dimon/) > [If you want to gain market share at your competitor's expense - look for a customer that's suffering from too much complexity and simplify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cohan/if-you-want-to-gain-market-share-at-your-competitor-s-expense-look/) Peter Cohan > [As they grow, companies saturate their markets, become more complex and difficult to manage, and face larger and more entrenched competitors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/as-they-grow-companies-saturate-their-markets-become-more-complex-and/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/every-coercive-monopoly-was-created-by-government-intervention-into/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) Chris Kirubi > [Sports have always been a huge part of my life and my conversations. It is a thrill and an honor to be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/sports-have-always-been-a-huge-part-of-my-life-and-my-conversations/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Talented people can predict with great accuracy what's about to happen just a tiny bit ahead of their competitors. It might be two seconds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-maney/talented-people-can-predict-with-great-accuracy-what-s-about-to/) [Kevin Maney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-maney/) ## More by Bruce Henderson > [“nearly 60 percent of the credible intelligence gathered in Europe came from Ritchie Boys.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/nearly-60-percent-of-the-credible-intelligence-gathered-in-europe/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [Any approach to strategy quickly encounters a conflict between corporate objectives and corporate capabilities. Attempting the impossible is not good strategy. It is just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/any-approach-to-strategy-quickly-encounters-a-conflict-between/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [Any corporate policy and plan which is typical of the industry is doomed to mediocrity. Where this is not so, it should be possible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/any-corporate-policy-and-plan-which-is-typical-of-the-industry-is/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [The objective is to enlarge the scope of your advantage which can only happen at someone else's expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/the-objective-is-to-enlarge-the-scope-of-your-advantage-which-can/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [Your most dangerous competitors are those that are most like you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/your-most-dangerous-competitors-are-those-that-are-most-like-you/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [Fatal North was being poisoned to death aboard his own vessel and by someone from his hand-picked crew... a cold-blooded, calculating, pre-meditated murder by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/fatal-north-was-being-poisoned-to-death-aboard-his-own-vessel-and-by/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) > [All strategy depends on competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/all-strategy-depends-on-competition/) [Bruce Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) [Explore all 8 Bruce Henderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/) ## More Behavior quotes > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I now know that deep within the human concept is something dark, selfish, and completely willing to do whatever is necessary to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-west/i-now-know-that-deep-within-the-human-concept-is-something-dark/) [Melissa West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-west/) > [“We are endowed with genes which code out our reaction to beavers and otters, maybe our reaction to each other as well. 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That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) J. Willard Gibbs > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/the-tipping-point-is-that-magic-moment-when-an-idea-trend-or-social/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [I think we've told a lot of lies about human behavior through film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/i-think-we-ve-told-a-lot-of-lies-about-human-behavior-through-film/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The strongest rebellion may be expressed in quiet, undramatic behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-spock/the-strongest-rebellion-may-be-expressed-in-quiet-undramatic-behavior/) [Benjamin Spock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-spock/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) [Browse all 4,218 Behavior quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The essential element of successful strategy is that it derives its success from the differences between competitors with a consequent difference in their behavior.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Henderson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/the-essential-element-of-successful-strategy-is-that-it-derives-its/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Behavior" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/the-essential-element-of-successful-strategy-is-that-it-derives-its/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/266/bruce-henderson-48897_behavior_the-essential-element-of-successful-stra_1885383.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The essential element of successful strategy is that it derives its success from the differences between…” — Bruce Henderson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bruce Henderson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-henderson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The essential element of successful strategy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/the-essential-element-of-successful-strategy-is-that-it-derives-its/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-henderson/the-essential-element-of-successful-strategy-is-that-it-derives-its/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```