---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What a Business Strategy Should Do • Keep…"
description: "\"“What a Business Strategy Should Do • Keep our focus on the customer, with an eye to the competition and the rest of the strategic environment • Pr..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg"
---

#  What a Business Strategy Should Do • Keep our focus on the…

![“What a Business Strategy Should Do • Keep our focus on the customer, with an eye to the competition and the rest of the strategic environment • Provide our team with a continuing stream of options • Enable rapid switching between options • Encourage initiative at all levels—in particular, an…” quote by Chet Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg)

> ““What a Business Strategy Should Do •   Keep our focus on the customer, with an eye to the competition and the rest of the strategic environment •   Provide our team with a continuing stream of options •   Enable rapid switching between options •   Encourage initiative at all levels—in particular, an execute-and-communicate (“shoot and scoot”) mindset rather than one of ask-and-wait •   Harmonize our efforts to achieve the future we have in mind.””

[Chet Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-richards/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Effective strategy keeps customer focus, offers options, encourages rapid action, and aligns efforts.

**In simple terms:** Strategic agility drives success.

Key Takeaway

Implement flexible planning.

Themes

strategy customer focus agility

Mood

pragmatic motivational

Type

Business:1 Business strategy:1 Strategic:1 Strategy:1 Strategy Focus:0 Scoot Mindset:0 Strategic Environment:0

When to use this quote

- corporate planning
- product development
- team coordination

Key Concepts

business management leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance speed and control?
- What metrics track alignment?

A Different Perspective

Too much flexibility can cause chaos.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Business strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business-strategy/) [Scoot Mindset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scoot-mindset-2952358/) [Strategic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic/) [Strategic Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategic-environment-2952359/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Strategy Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy-focus-1790525/)

## Related quotes

> [A successful economic development strategy must focus on improving the skills of the area's workforce, reducing the cost of doing business and making available…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/a-successful-economic-development-strategy-must-focus-on-improving-2/)

[Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/)

> [The better strategy is to focus on strengths and surround yourself with people who can complement your skills. However, you have to first do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-kaplan/the-better-strategy-is-to-focus-on-strengths-and-surround-yourself/)

[Robert S. Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-kaplan/)

> [If you look at the numbers from 2002 to 2016, we have consistently been market leaders. We have followed a well-articulated strategy, and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanda-kochhar/if-you-look-at-the-numbers-from-2002-to-2016-we-have-consistently/)

[Chanda Kochhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanda-kochhar/)

> [What business strategy is all about-what distinguishes it from all other kinds of business planning-is, in a word, competitive advantage. Without competitors there would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenichi-ohmae/what-business-strategy-is-all-about-what-distinguishes-it-from-all/)

[Kenichi Ohmae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenichi-ohmae/)

> [“Redundancy is my favourite business strategy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/redundancy-is-my-favourite-business-strategy/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Know the enemy and know yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/know-the-enemy-and-know-yourself/)

[Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/)

> [The IT organization can't drive or lead a digital transformation. It has to come from the business and the business strategy, because they're fundamental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-dell/the-it-organization-can-t-drive-or-lead-a-digital-transformation-it/)

[Michael Dell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-dell/)

> [“The corporate board oversees the corporate strategy, and the business strategy is underpinned by business capabilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/the-corporate-board-oversees-the-corporate-strategy-and-the-business/)

[Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/)

> [“Organizational development is part of the digital strategy, and digital strategy equals to business strategy with digital new normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/organizational-development-is-part-of-the-digital-strategy-and/)

[Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/)

> [I generally disagree with most of the very high margin opportunities. Why? Because it's a business strategy tradeoff: the lower the margin you take,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-generally-disagree-with-most-of-the-very-high-margin-opportunities/)

[Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/)

> [Alignment of business strategy and risk appetite should minimize the firm's exposure to large and unexpected losses. In addition, the firm's risk management capabilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-powell/alignment-of-business-strategy-and-risk-appetite-should-minimize-the/)

[Jerome Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-powell/)

> [As Ive progressed in my career, Ive come to appreciate -- and really value -- the other attributes that define a companys success beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/as-ive-progressed-in-my-career-ive-come-to-appreciate-and-really/)

[Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/)

> [It's a strategic thing to be in permanent campaign mode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-s-a-strategic-thing-to-be-in-permanent-campaign-mode/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [Current levels of Pentagon spending may not be able to support current defense strategy. The answer to this problem is right before our eyes:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hartung/current-levels-of-pentagon-spending-may-not-be-able-to-support/)

[William Hartung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hartung/)

> [I think that the first thing is you should have a strategic asset allocation mix that assumes that you don't know what the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-think-that-the-first-thing-is-you-should-have-a-strategic-asset/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

## More by Chet Richards

> [“The nature of war is to shape the enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-richards/the-nature-of-war-is-to-shape-the-enemy/)

[Chet Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-richards/)

[Explore all 2 Chet Richards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-richards/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“What a Business Strategy Should Do •   Keep our focus on the customer, with an eye to the competition and the rest of the strategic environment •   Provide our team with a continuing stream of options •   Enable rapid switching between options •   Encourage initiative at all levels—in particular, an execute-and-communicate (“shoot and scoot”) mindset rather than one of ask-and-wait •   Harmonize our efforts to achieve the future we have in mind.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chet Richards"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-richards/what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep-our-focus-on-the-customer/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-richards/what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep-our-focus-on-the-customer/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/885/chet-richards-109352_business_what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep_2730716.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“What a Business Strategy Should Do • Keep our focus on the customer, with an eye to the competition and the…” — Chet Richards",
                "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": "Chet Richards",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-richards/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“What a Business Strategy Should Do...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-richards/what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep-our-focus-on-the-customer/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-richards/what-a-business-strategy-should-do-keep-our-focus-on-the-customer/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
