rockefeller’s 38 letters to his son——the 34th letter: always do strategic thinking
dear john:
dr. hamilton is blessed again. it seems that golf cannot restrain his waist from expanding outwards. he can only use other exercise methods to reduce fat. unfortunately, the exercise that prevents him from gaining weight has not yet been invented, and he is suffering. however, he can always bring us happiness, using all kinds of weird stories in his mind.
today, dr. hamilton entertained us again with a story of a fisherman and an angler. perhaps the doctor seemed very proud to see us all laughing, he smiled and shut me off: "mr. rockefeller, do you want to be a fisherman or an angler?"
i told him that if i became an angler, maybe i would not be qualified to play golf with you, because i rely on effective behavior strategies to create business benefits, and the angler’s behavior cannot guarantee my success.
of course, no angler is so stupid that he just throws down the bait without thinking, planning, and deciding in advance: what kind of fish to catch, what kind of bait to use, where to throw the fishing line, and then wait for the big fish to take the bait. in terms of form, they did nothing wrong, but no one knows whether the result is what they want.
maybe it will take a while for them to catch a fish, maybe they can't catch a fish, and the fish that they dream of may never be caught. because they are too obsessed with their own way, although they are very clear about their goals, but their way has limited the possibility of success-except where the fishing line can reach, their fishing range is equal to zero. however, if they can fish with a net like a fisherman, it will expand the fishing range, and the abundance of fish will give them many choices and eventually catch the fish they want.
i told mr. hamilton and my golf friends that i am not a stubborn, step-by-step angler who solves problems in a simple way. i am a fisherman who can create a variety of choices until the fish that can create the most commercial benefits. they all laughed and said that i had leaked the secret of making money.
john, no matter what you do, the best way to find the perfect idea requires a lot of ideas. before making the most perfect decision, i will devote myself to looking for creative and effective options, consider a variety of possibilities, and actively try various options, and then focus on the best option. .
this is why i can always catch the big fish i want. of course, in the process of implementing the plan, i will maintain an open strategy, adapt to the current situation, and constantly adjust or revise my plan; therefore, even if the plan does not go smoothly, i will not panic, but i can always respond calmly. .
many people think that i have extraordinary abilities, and i am a leader full of efficiency and ability to act. if this is the case, i think you can also get such praise, but you need to refrain from the urge to find simple, one-way solutions, be willing to try various possible ways to achieve your goals, and have the patience to act in the face of difficulties, courage and courage, and the perseverance of never letting go without reaching the goal.
the planner who simply manipulates means only rations the strategist to carry shoes. as the president, i only set clear directions or strategies for my subordinates, but i will not limit myself to an overly rigid action plan. on the contrary, i will continue to explore the various possibilities that can realize the strategy.
many people insist that the key to success lies in a solid strategic plan, and this plan must be backed by concrete, measurable, achievable and practical action goals. i admit that this is very important, but it has fatal flaws. the plan emphasizes the criteria of judgment and the pre-determined results, and what people adopt is also a fixed method that believes that the goal can be achieved. since these programs are based on known methods that are expected to achieve the goal, we have actually limited the scope before we start to act.
although the plan seemed seamless when we drafted the plan, the situation may have changed before the plan was finalized. that is to say, not only the market conditions have long changed, but the customers have changed, and even what can support the plan. resources have also changed. it's no wonder that these costly, time-consuming and labor-intensive strategies only have very few parts that can be implemented.
how to deal with this situation? whether we are drawing up a plan for a company or a single department, we must make sure that what we are drawing up is a strategy, not a means. the essence of strategy is flexible, long-term, multi-faceted, and large-scale. they emphasize results such as how to grow or expand profits, rather than a measurable goal. at the same time, the strategy provides a general direction, not the only way to achieve success.
to be an outstanding leader, we must make ourselves a strategic thinker, not just a designer of means. we also have to avoid confining ourselves to the established document process. our motto will be focus, but flexibility. we focus on the process of exploration. in every minute of every day, we can create possible directions that help achieve long-term goals.
we will not stick to three or five ways to achieve long-range goals. instead, we will be able to discover opportunities for profit at all times—whether in conversations with opponents or brainstorming meetings with subordinates.
in order to stay away from the crisis, we must constantly formulate new strategies and adjust the old plans at the same time. while responding to the daily changes in the business environment, we must also revise the long-term process in accordance with the changes in the situation. in this way, not only can we maintain a flexible style in the short term, but in the long run, we also have a clear concept of a flexible ideal goal that can meet the latest economic environment. we can put stale strategic plans on the shelf and move forward in a vigorous and energetic environment in unison.
be a hopeist. no matter how bad the situation looks or how bad it actually is, please keep your eyes open to find out the infinite hope in it-never give up searching, because hope will always exist.
i believe that all leaders have the obligation to provide hope, and not only for themselves, but also for their employees to guide a bright road. think back to the time in your life when you felt the most hopeless. it might be because you felt that you were desperate, or believed that you had no other choice. you were trapped, abandoned, and could not find a way out.
there is only one way to overcome despair, and that is to continuously create various possibilities to overcome obstacles. simply put, hope comes from believing that there are alternatives.
outstanding leaders have the ability to cope with specific business situations, maneuver plans to create new markets, tricks to cope with crises, and blueprints for developing careers for themselves and their employees. when the situation seems to have fallen to the bottom and is irreversible, they are like brave wrestlers, even if they are suppressed by their opponents and it is difficult to get out, they will never give up any opportunity to turn over.
with their talents, flexible body, and adaptable intelligence, they cleverly found gaps and escaped dangers. they had no choice but to make a way out.
if you can be creative at the beginning, you can avoid endless exhaustion, frustration and pain.
when things seem to have reached the point of despair, if we still hold infinite hope, we will be able to surpass the boundaries set by myself and provide subordinates with new choices. therefore, we must have the courage to find a way out of no other choice.
love your father
october 14, 1904
rockefeller famous quote:
1. we must have the courage to find a way out of no other choice.
2. to find the best way to find the perfect idea, you have to have many ideas.
3. planners who simply manipulate means only ration shoes for strategic thinkers.
