Ok let’s get one thing clear from the off, most of us bloggers are here to do business. Like myself, many bloggers either already make money online or plan to in the near future.
Strategy is a part of any business. Here’s Google’s definition of a strategy – “A plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim.”
So here’s the question I’m asking – Is too much strategy a bad thing?
I think that a great starting point is deciding whereabouts we need strategy, and where we don’t. It’s clear that every business needs strategy. However, I think that we should limit our strategy when we are building relationships.
Unfortunately, I’ve met a few people who base their networking completely on strategy. They don’t have a genuine interest in the people that they connect with, they are just thinking of themselves and what they can get out of the relationship. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with connecting with people and asking them for favours down the line; but I don’t think that people base a connection on what they will get out of it in the future. Sooner or later your real intentions come out – whether they are good or bad. If they’re bad, you’ll see the genuine people quickly disappear from around you.
What lesson have I learnt from looking at other people’s strategies?
Don’t focus on the money or the numbers. Focus on the relationship and adding value.
I believe that whatever strategies we choose to pursue, we should always be genuine and true to ourselves.
If you’re not here to make a quick buck, but you want some longevity online or indeed in any business, I think it is essential to incorporate genuineness into your strategic planning, and to be genuine in your interaction.
The takeaway: You can’t (and shouldn’t) put a monetary value on real, long term relationships that get stronger over time.
Some great examples of genuine people that I can personally vouch for:
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Jk Allen
September 23, 2011 at 6:06 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Hey Robert,
I consider myself to be a strategist. It’s how I think about the world and approaching things. Professionally I’m a project manager, which includes detailed planning of projects with lots of nuts and bolts. It’s a perfect fit for me because I like creating the outcome before I begin working towards the goal; creating the strategy.
Too much of the “right” strategy is not a bad strategy. Because the right strategy has stop gaps built in and points of re-evaluation which changes the outlook of the global strategy. Having a rigid strategy, or ill advised one is bad.
But more in tune with this post, and people trying to be strategic on every front, for the sole purpose of a achieving a personal end goal, is a bad move in my book. It makes a person look shady and seem more like a con-artist than a genuine person.
Like you, I’ve also seen these folks online (and in real life) and I despise their every move. I’m the type of person who enjoys interacting with others and when I realize that one has secretive motives I feel a bit let down after the discovery.
Great point you brought up here. Thanks for the mention Robert!
Jk Allen recently posted..Birth of the Opportunist…Death of the Company Man
Robert
September 23, 2011 at 8:52 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Hey Jk,
As usual you hit the nail on the head with this one: “Too much of the “right” strategy is not a bad strategy.” I wish I’d said that in my post! lol
You make another good point about rigid strategy. Strategy has got to be fluid because as we all know, things never turn out EXACTLY how we expect – so we have to be adaptable.
Yeah I hate those people too b, it’s all about being genuine. The truth comes out sooner or later; and yeah, it does make me feel a little let down too.
No worries for the mention, you’re genuine through and through!
Thanks for taking time to stop by.
Speak soon man.
Robert recently posted..Is too much strategy a bad strategy?
Angus Finlayson
September 24, 2011 at 1:12 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Hi Robert,
Just found your blog via Stephen’s Deep Existence, like your post!
The word strategy is very ambiguous and when referenced in building relationships can have a negative connotation, rightly or wrongly?
For example, as a blogger I could have a ‘strategy’ to have as many readers as possible, partly because I think what I have to say may be helpful to someone, partly because I want my work to be read by as many people as possible, partly because I feel the NEED to share my thoughts with the world, partly because I want to make a living and partly because I enjoy interacting with people and finding out how they feel about a certain subject.
Like it or not blogging is a numbers game, however you look at it and from whatever ‘strategy’ you employ from the outset.
I also feel if you have to think about incorporating genuineness into your interactions you’ve kinda missed the point.
People do and act for a myriad of premeditated (or strategic) reasons, does that make their interaction any less or more congruent?
Another example might be comment luv (which I use on my own blog btw) – if I was genuine and coming from a non strategic angle, should I forget about the possible link back from this comment? Hell no! lol
I’m being strategic, but I didn’t write this comment just for the link luv! Food for thought maybe?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Robert…
Regards
Angus
Angus Finlayson recently posted..Two Simple Steps to Personal Growth and Development
Robert
September 24, 2011 at 11:50 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Hi Angus, first of all thanks for stopping by and letting me know how you found the site! (something I always like to know).
I think this post is quite ambiguous! lol. I’ve been wanting to write it for a while, but I was moving to the new blog etc.
Well as I said at the beginning, we’re almost all here to do business in one form or another. Even the few bloggers I know that don’t do business online, many of them are starting to try and make money in some way or form. The point I was making, but perhaps didn’t say it clearly, is that we all have strategy.
Like anything else, blogging is a numbers game of course. No one can deny that. However, it’s the focus on numbers that lets people down. Focussing on numbers means that you don’t care about people.
You shouldn’t have to think about incorporating genuineness into your strategy, you should do that anyway.
I see Comment Luv in a completely different way. It’s all part of community and giving back as I see it. You have been kind enough to come and read my post and leave a comment, and in return you’ve got a link back to your site from mine.
It comes down to the fact that each and every one of us has self-promotion and our own blog at the very core of our priorities. That is both inevitable and undeniable. Hence, we’re all going to have a strategy when it comes to our blogs, and probably a detailed strategy at that. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I just think that people have to be genuine and have the right intentions when choosing their strategy. A simple example of that is you coming to comment on my blog. As you said, you’re not doing it solely for the link or any exposure you might bring, the main reason you’re doing it is because you want to add to the conversation. That’s being inherently genuine in your strategy, is it not?
I like your insightful viewpoints Angus, hope to see you here again.
Robert recently posted..Is too much strategy a bad strategy?
Ryan Critchett@Computer Repair Phillipsburg New Jersey
September 25, 2011 at 10:48 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
So with this bro. Strategy is great. It’s what gets us where we’re going, but relationship building is something else. Whenever you bring the two together, in a way that makes people feel “used for your cause,” they’ll quickly realize you really don’t give a crap about the connection you’ve made, and that they’re just another number to the person.
Not cool! Hey! I’m not a number! Really good points bro. Haven’t spent too much time interacting with Sheridan, but he seems like a real genuine dude. Definitely can vouch for JK. Dude is the man.
And you too, of course, Robert.
Yes, too much strategy, when establishing meaningful connections with people, is definitely a bad strategy. Love this.
Robert
September 25, 2011 at 11:44 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Yeah exactly, it’s having too much strategy when it comes to connections. Always a bad thing. Yeah, I think we’re both experienced the whole “used for the cause” thing, and I think that there’s unfortunately a few people in the community who have that sort of mentality. Thankfully, the vast majority are genuine guys like yourself.
Everyone has and NEEDS strategy, but combining strategy and forming connections can be dangerous if the intentions aren’t right.
Know Jk much better than I know Marcus; but I know that even though his blog is really successful, Marcus has remained grounded and is an awesome guy.
Thanks for commenting bro, you always add heaps of value (and usually align!
)
Skype soon bro!
Robert recently posted..Is too much strategy a bad strategy?
John Sherry
September 27, 2011 at 1:48 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
You got it major time Rob. Focus on people and being a human to all you connect to. The best strategy of all to me – be helpful and give people more of what they want and less of what they don’t. They’ll come back again and again don’t you think???
John Sherry recently posted..There’s Work And There’s Work
Robert
September 27, 2011 at 2:05 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Hey John, great to see you on here! That’s it exactly – “focus on people and being a human”. Shame more people don’t take that simple but great advice!
Yeah, giving people what they want is a sure-fire way to have them back wanting more (which is never a bad thing, particularly when it comes to blogging or business!)
PS Just found out you’re from “this side” of the pond!
Robert recently posted..Is too much strategy a bad strategy?
Brian Kinkade@Denver MLS
October 12, 2011 at 4:38 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Too many strategies can turn things more uncertain and unorganized. When there are too many techniques it becomes impossible to concentrate in all the techniques so the fewer the better. When we choose only what we can handle we work more honestly.
Robert
October 12, 2011 at 6:56 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Yeah exactly Brian. There are certain things that we need strategy for, but inevitably too much strategy can act as a barrier in more ways than one.
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