In real life, strategy is actually very straightforward. You pick a general direction and implement like hell.

Business is a game, and as with all games, the team that puts the best people on the field and gets them playing together wins. It's that simple.

You measure your people and you take action on those that don't measure up.

Strategy is simply resource allocation. When you strip away all the noise, that's what it comes down to. Strategy means making clear cut choices about how to compete. You cannot be everything to everybody, no matter what the size of your business or how deep its pockets.

First and most obvious, bring out the three old warhorses of competition - cost, quality, and service - and drive them to new levels, making every person in the organization see them for what they are, a matter of survival.

Take the middle 70 percent and tell them what they need to do to get into the top 20 percent.

If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete.