Wisdom, Strategy, and Planning

“It’s better to be wise than strong;
intelligence outranks muscle any day.
Strategic planning is the key to warfare;
to win, you need a lot of good counsel.”

(PROVERBS 24:5, 6; the Message)

Strategy is the art and science of winning. Strategy means outsmarting the competition. Strategy pertains to macro level thinking and planning. How do you get effectively and efficiently from point A to point B?

Strategy comes from the Greek word “strategos” which describes the military strategist or general on the battle field. Strategy pertains to finding and employing necessary and available means towards accomplishing and reaching desired ends.

1. Dwight Eisenhower once said: “Plans are useless. Planning is everything.” What is the meaning of this phrase in terms of strategy? Are plans static? Is planning fluid?

2. Sun Tzu penned in the classic The Art of War: “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.” What is the meaning of this question in terms of wisdom and planning?

3. Stephen Covey encouraged his readers to “begin with the end in mind.” What does it mean in terms of strategic planning?