DiscoverStrategy Meets Reality PodcastNo Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise
No Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise

No Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise

Update: 2025-11-18
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Most organisations overthink strategy and underdo it.

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Alex Smith, author of No Bullsh**t Strategy, to explore why strategy has drifted into a thinking exercise instead of a doing discipline.

Alex explains why the fundamentals of strategy are simple, why leaders obsess over the wrong things, and why the real work starts when you make a move your competitors cannot or will not copy. From diagnosing industry flaws to the value of sacrifice and contrarian thinking, this is a grounded conversation that cuts through jargon and brings strategy back to action.

πŸ” In this episode:

β€’ Only as better than best: why out-competing rarely works
Β β€’ Sacrifice as the engine of real innovation
Β β€’ Strategy as a doing discipline
Β β€’ The macro vs micro problem in organisations
Β β€’ Why language corrupts strategic thinking
Β β€’ Why customer obsession kills good strategy
Β β€’ Diagnosing industry problems, not customer problems
Β β€’ Simple execution that people can actually act on

🎧 Keywords: Strategy, No Bulls**t Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Industry Diagnosis, Strategic Simplicity, Execution, Action, Contrarian Strategy, Leadership, Decision Making

πŸ“˜ Alex’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/

πŸ“¬ Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones

🌐 Full episodes: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategy-meets-reality

Send Mike a Message

πŸ‘‚ Enjoying the show?
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πŸ”— Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

πŸ“Ί Watch on YouTube β†’ https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout

πŸ’¬ Connect with host Mike Jones β†’ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

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No Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise

No Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise

Mike Jones