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Today on the Chic Perspectives Show my guest Rich Horwath talked about business strategy and his new book, Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy, Focusing Your Resources, and Taking Smart Action.

I love strategy – and you certainly can’t build a flourishing business without a good one – yet so many companies fall down in this area – and it ultimately leads to mediocrity at best and failure at worse.  Want to avoid these unpleasant fates?  Then take your strategy advice from Rich, he’s an expert.  I like simple clean models that help companies make smart and fast decisions and take action – and that’s what I like about Rich’s ideas and advice.

Rich talked about the mistakes big companies often make in the strategic planning process, and his model for defining competitive advantage.

Rich talked about the automakers, and other big business bailouts and whether or not that was really the best thing for our economy, as well as the macro economic implications of such federal stimulus measures such as the cash for clunkers program.

While many CEOs have cited the weak economy as a cause for poor performance in 2009, Rich shares why a business’s performance has little to do with the economy as a whole and much more to do with smart strategy and effective execution.

Bulletproof your business plan, avoid the million dollar mistake, learn the secret to finding a job or getting that next promotion in today’s economy and avoid letting your experience hold your business back – this interview is packed with practical nuggets of wisdom to help you take strategic advantage of the current economy and avoid the certain doom facing many who do not heed Rich’s advice.

Rich and I also got into how to maintain mental agility in the marketplace and the boardroom, innovation and resource allocation, and developing strategic discipline.

Packed with great case studies and insightful ideas to get you laser focused on what you are best at and maximizing the value of that in the marketplace through a killer strategy , definitely check out Rich’s latest book, Deep Dive: The Proven Method for Building Strategy, Focusing Your Resources, and Taking Smart Action.

Check out more strategic tips from Rich and his monthly Strategic Thinker publication at www.strategyskills.com. Rich, thanks for taking the time to share your Chic Perspective with us today!