How to Think Strategically

CHAPTER 2

Cleverness

Strategy Is a Crafted Approach of Fitting Resources to the Nuances of a Situation

Hope is not a strategy.

—Vince Lombardi

It’s natural to say “This is a clever child” and less natural to say “This is a clever adult.” The word clever implies that the person is in a disadvantaged position but has nevertheless found an overlooked way to leverage his or her resources. With that characterization in mind and recalling the Moneyball example of Chapter 1, consider these three statements:

• The Oakland A’s had a clever strategy.

• The Oakland A’s had a clever goal.

• The Oakland A’s had a clever plan.

To what extent does each statement make sense to you?

For me, the first statement is perfectly sensible because Oakland’s players ...