#59 The Pressure Cooker

Hello, friends.

Does your strategic plan relieve or build pressure on your team?

An effective plan reduces decision-making pressure, sets clear expectations, and empowers action. How? Stress testing.

When I reflect on the projects that were difficult or caused me stress, they all had one thing in common: they were high-pressure situations. Every daily check-in, every problem that arose, and every critical milestone felt like a vice being turned. In retrospect, I realized the root cause of these challenges was poor strategy and planning.

This isn't to say businesses/projects with a good strategy aren't demanding or, at times, difficult—quite the contrary.

The difference is a good strategic plan acts as a pressure release valve. It removes pressure from the engagement. For example, Honestly was finishing up a large web project last month that had a few difficulties crop up near the finish line. But because the correct approach was in place, no one lost sleep. No one got overstressed. All was calm.

Until next time.

Honestly,

- David

P.S. Hologram technology is here. Check it out.
P.P.S. Khoi Vinh's article on "What is Design" made me think.
P.P.P.S. Enjoying the podcast Cabinet of Curiosities by this fun podcast from Aaron Mahnke and HSW.