I Have a Strategy (No You Don't): The Illustrated Guide to Strategy

by Howell J. Malham Jr.

A smart and witty take on strategy . . . an essential business topic Every day, millions of professionals around the world discuss strategy, and they assume that everyone else in the room defines "strategy" the same way. But they don't. Howell J. Malham Jr. has created a simply designed and illustrated book that goes straight to the heart of the issue. Through the largely facetious dialog of two line drawn colorful characters, this clever, irreverent book seeks to get everyone in the room on the same page using the same definitions for the same words. This is a crucial first step to any business proposition, yet it is often the most overlooked. At a time when business in general is groping in the dark for new solutions to persistent problems, this book is a breath of fresh air, reminding readers that they have to build a foundation before they can scale the walls.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Humor

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 2013

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, you should know that this is a rant. There is approximately one sentence per page - like he's speaking in bullet points so you don't miss the point. And the sarcasm is pretty thick. Malham makes some good explanations, but I think he thinks we're all dummies and that's why he has to explain.

On the other hand, I think this is clearer and more useful that the other, much wordier, book I'm reading about strategy.

[Luis Fernando Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está bonito, las ilustraciones son muy simples, pero creo que efectivas. El libro se reduce a lo siguiente, una estrategia solo es una estrategia si:

* Tiene un propósito claro e intencional
* Existe un plan
* Hay una secuencia de acciones a tomar
* Hay un objetivo discernible y medible

El resto del libro son ejemplos e "historietas" que soportan la idea principal.

Es un buen libro para una sentada y poner muy claro un concepto.

[Onalaja Gbenga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book on strategy. Read it in one sitting. Key take-away: Strategy is purpose, plan, interconnections events, measurable goal, and narrative.

[Ernesto Guimarães · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read! Clarifies in a fast way what's strategy, given examples to support the concepts. worth of you don't have experience in development strategies

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overly cartoon-ish.

[Aelena · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny little book, or well, more like a longish blog post with some drawings thrown in for a funny/sarcastic review of what strategy is and devoid of meaning that word feels these days from overuse.

Some quotes that I liked (and some comment afterwards...)


- "Spending time and money on meetings to develop a strategy without a distinct, measurable goal is not smart", no, but it's the way many people earn their living, what right do we have to take it away from them?

- Business is full of "strategists" that do not know how to strategize, developing strategies for clients who do not know what a strategy is (so everyone's happing, the biller and the billee)

- Is everyone on that meeting aligned as to what strategy is?

- A powerpoint is not a strategy, a strategy is not a single tactic, but every strategy needs at least one essential tactic, a narrative, a story, how to package and sell your strategy, to create buy-in, to inspire.

- Everybody knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing (this is so true)

- Culture eats strategy for lunch

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book certainly delivers in its attempt to cleanly define the essentials of strategy and the components of successful execution - however, while the stylistic presentation choice of the book is certainly easy on the eyes this is done at sacrifice of weighty context which left me wanting for a tad bit more of detail (particularly with the case studies).

[Jake Losh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book that I read in one sitting while at a coffee shop. Treats strategy in a very light, accessible and humorous way. Like a book of aphorisms, it makes simple, light-hearted statements about strategy that have a deeper meaning and stick with you over time. Good coffee table book, but not very serious. The drawings are low-resolution and crude, but effective.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, to the point, funny book about what a strategy is. The dialogue between the characters illustrate the points well, the examples are pertinent and the pacing of the book feels like a verbal presentation. A good succinct read.

[Gamingtildawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, quick read. Read in an hour. It was an illustrated book with a cartoon strip running through it as it explains what a strategy is?
They effectively explain strategy and give easy to understand examples, but the snippy remarks about the Cubs and Apple, I did not like or appreciate.

[Nura Yusof · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, succinct. But does it really need that many pages that add up to the price of the book? So many blank spaces that wastes paper.

[Mint · Rating 4 out of 5]

its really funny, it has illustrations of two people named gary and larry in it, and it explains about history and other things too! It's a really nice book :D

[Hs Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and intelligible at the same point in time, excellent light reading.

[Timmy Cheong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to pick and read for pointers

[Matt Neely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious cartoon view of strategic planning. and strategy. and the overuse of the word.

[Tarmo Tali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, funny and largely useless.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, to the point reminder to question ourselves and others when we hear the word "strategy."