“The Gap” Exposed: Scan Your Strategy in 10 Minutes or Less.

Good morning! 

Last week, we talked about “The Gap”. 

That’s the trap that too many strategies fall into between theory and action. 

You might be taking a lot of actions, but you aren’t making real progress. 

That’s “The Gap” in action. 

Vague busyness, but not impact. 

Last week, I described it. 

This week, I want you to see it for yourself. 

I wanted to share a self-diagnostic that maps to the 5 points of my “Strategy Compass.”

This quick diagnostic will help you see “The Gap” in your own business. 

Compass Gap Scan:

2 questions per layer. 

Rate yourself on a scale of 0-10. 

0 is the worst. 10 is “nailed it.”

• True North (Success Clarity):
  1. How precisely does your success definition go beyond vague goals like “grow” or “profit? Does it include specific, measurable outcomes that account for economic wildcards? Do you have a grand ambition for your business? (Score 0-10) 
  2. Is your vision of success exciting yet realistic, forcing trade-offs, or does it let you chase everything without focus? (Score 0-10)
• True Customer (Buyer Focus):
  1. Can you pinpoint your real buyer (e.g., not “businesses,” but “mid-market CEOs in volatile sectors”) with their exact pains and behaviors? (Score 0-10)
  2. How unique is your customer profile? Does it overlap heavily with competitors, or carve out a defensible niche? (Score 0-10)
• True Value (“Why Us?” Prop):
  1. What irreplaceable transformation do you deliver that generics can’t touch? Test: If rivals copied it, would you still dominate because they can’t keep their promise? (Score 0-10)
  2. Is your value prop pressure-tested against market noise? Does it blend into “innovative” fluff? (Score 0-10)
• True Leverage (Resources):
  1. Have you inventoried adaptable assets (e.g., networks, IP) that hedge against debt or volatility, beyond the obvious? (Score 0-10)
  2. How scalable are your resources in a shaky economy? (Score 0-10)
• True Actions (Execution):
  1. Are your steps directly linked to the layers above, with clear milestones, or scattered reactions to daily fires? (Score 0-10)
  2. Do your actions prioritize high-impact bets over busywork? Measuring effectiveness, not just activity? (Score 0-10)

Add a layer to your diagnostic by adding some context to “WHY?” you’ve answered the questions the way that you did. 

Scoring Analysis (Embed as a simple table or bullets):

• 80-100: Powerhouse: your Compass is humming; amplify with deeper layers.
• 50-79: Spotty: gaps in honesty could fuel generics; tune up True North first.
• 0-49: “The Gap” Exists: you’re in zombie territory; quick wins might mask ineffective busyness.

Score low? 

Leave your score in the comments section and I’ll do a quick fix in next week’s newsletter. 

Scored your Gap? 

Don’t stop! Turn it into action. 

Sign up for the free 60-minute True North Tune-Up at the Link! 

Homework: Complete/refine the diagnostic above + jot your ‘why’ notes. 

Bring ‘em live for group feedback and your upgraded North.”

The next one is Tuesday, November 18th at 1 PM Eastern. 

Spots fill up fast! 

DON’T MISS OUT!

The post “The Gap” Exposed: Scan Your Strategy in 10 Minutes or Less. appeared first on Wakeman Consulting Group.