1. Surviving
Execution
Mark H. Pavlidis
@mhp
2015-04-08
DemoCamp Hamilton 20

2. Motivation

3. Definitions
Execution:
• the process where work is produced
Strategy:
• high level plan to achieve one or more goals
under conditions of uncertainty

4. – Michael E. Porter, Professor @ HBS
“Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs;
it's about deliberately choosing to be
different.”

5. How To Make Choices

6. – Linus Pauling, Chemist
“The best way to have a good idea
is to have a lot of ideas.”

7. Brainstorming

8. Ideation Without
Critical Thinking
is Wasteful

9. – Socrates, Philosopher
“I know that I know nothing”

10. – Mark H. Pavlidis, Maker
“I know nothing”

11. Socratic Method

12. Stockdale Paradox
You must retain faith that you will prevail in the end,
regardless of the difficulties.
AND at the same time…
You must confront the most brutal facts of your
current reality, whatever they might be.

13. Stockdale ParadoxSurvival
Optimism
Hope Despair

14. – Yogi Berra
“It ain’t over till it’s over”

15. Luck = Preparation ⋂ Opportunity

18. Stress CurvePerformance
Pressure
Lazy Burnout
Uncomfortable Fatigue

19. Everything
is a
Tradeoff

22. Perspective

23. How do you boil the
ocean?

24. Products are
Puzzles

25. Summary
• Strategy is about choosing the best tradeoff
• Question everything - from all perspectives
• Survival is long term thinking and patience
• Choose a slice - zoom in and focus execution

26. Surviving
Execution
Mark H. Pavlidis
@mhp
2015-04-08
DemoCamp Hamilton 20