--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Michael Porter’s best, when he said, “The…" description: "\"“Michael Porter’s best, when he said, “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”\" — Michael Bungay Stanier" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/michael-bungay-stanier-18364_strategy_michael-porter-s-best-when-he-said-the-e_2740542.jpg" --- # Michael Porter’s best, when he said, “The essence of… ![“Michael Porter’s best, when he said, “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” quote by Michael Bungay Stanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/michael-bungay-stanier-18364_strategy_michael-porter-s-best-when-he-said-the-e_2740542.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/michael-bungay-stanier-18364_strategy_michael-porter-s-best-when-he-said-the-e_2740542.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f91/michael-bungay-stanier-18364_strategy_michael-porter-s-best-when-he-said-the-e_2740542.jpg) > ““Michael Porter’s best, when he said, “The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.”” [Michael Bungay Stanier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bungay-stanier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Strategy focuses on selecting actions to avoid, as much as on choosing actions to take, to allocate resources effectively. **In simple terms:** Good strategy is about what not to do. Key Takeaway Prioritize by eliminating low‑value tasks. Themes strategy decision‑making focus resource allocation Mood practical motivational Type business self‑help When to use this quote - project planning - product development - personal productivity Key Concepts business management systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What could you drop to improve outcomes? - How do you evaluate opportunity cost? A Different Perspective Choosing what not to do can be harder than deciding what to do. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-said-357751/) [Essence Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-strategy-3023501/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-porter-3023500/) [Porter Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/porter-best-3023499/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Strategy Choosing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy-choosing-3023498/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-porter/the-essence-of-strategy-is-choosing-what-not-to-do/) [Michael Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-porter/) > [Strategy is indeed about choosing what not to do as well as what to do. A business unit needs to decide what need it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/strategy-is-indeed-about-choosing-what-not-to-do-as-well-as-what-to/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [The essence of strategy is to align your ends with your means: to match your goals and your resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/the-essence-of-strategy-is-to-align-your-ends-with-your-means-to/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [“The essence of strategy is making informed trade off's, not doing everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/the-essence-of-strategy-is-making-informed-trade-off-s-not-doing/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [George Carlin put it best. He said, "My old act was so easy to do because there was so little of me in it."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/george-carlin-put-it-best-he-said-my-old-act-was-so-easy-to-do/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [I never said I was the best in anything. I never said I'm an icon. 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