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Tactics Without Strategy: The Key to Achieving Success in 2025
How Sun Tzu’s 2,500-Year-Old Wisdom Can Transform Your New Year’s Plans into a Symphony of Success
How Sun Tzu’s 2,500-Year-Old Wisdom Can Transform Your New Year’s Plans into a Symphony of Success
Everywhere I turn, it seems like people are asking about my plans for 2025.
”Have you made your New Year’s resolutions?”
“What are you going to do differently this year?”
“What are you planning for the New Year?”
Bloggers, influencers, thought leaders, podcasters, and many other infopreneurs are all attempting to newsjack the new year and entice us to click on their links. It seems like New Year’s planning recommendations have been transformed into a high-tech cottage industry.
But regardless of who suggests it, knowing your plans for the next twelve months is not the most critical factor in making 2025 a productive and fruitful year.
Instead of asking what you will do (and won’t do), I prefer to ask, “What do you want to achieve? What will success look like for you?”
Because before you decide which tactics to use, wouldn’t it be better to understand what you want those tactics to achieve?
As Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, almost 2,500 new years ago in the 5th century BCE, “Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”
What Does “Tactics Without Strategy” Really Mean?
Tactics Without Strategy: Why It’s Just Noise Before Defeat
Imagine your plan for 2025 is to build a business, craft a marketing campaign, or even navigate a tricky personal situation. Full of new year energy and optimism, you dive in headfirst, trying every tool at your disposal—posting on social media, running ads, making calls, shaking hands—without ever stopping to ask yourself a crucial question: What’s the bigger picture?
That is the essence of “tactics without strategy.”
The Difference Between Tactics and Strategy
It’s not about effort. It’s not about hustle. It’s about direction. Without strategy—your north star—all those actions are just noise.
Busywork.
Movement without momentum.
Think of a car spinning its wheels in the mud. Sure, there’s a lot of noise and energy, but without a plan to gain traction, you’re not going anywhere.
Sun Tzu’s wisdom applies here. “Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat” reminds us that activity alone doesn’t equal success. In fact, it often leads to exhaustion and failure. You might win a battle or two, but without a clear strategy, you’ll lose the war.
Why 2025 Demands a Strategic Approach
Now flip the script. With strategy—a clear, concise, big-picture plan—every tactic aligns like the instruments in a perfectly tuned orchestra. Your actions are no longer noise; they’re music. Each note builds on the last, creating harmony and driving you toward your goal.
How to Align Tactics With Your Goals in 2025
Here’s the takeaway: Before you act, pause. Think. Define your strategy. Decide what you’re trying to accomplish and why. Then, choose the tactics that make the most sense for achieving your vision. The noise of scattered effort will fade, replaced by the rhythm of meaningful progress.
Sun Tzu’s Timeless Wisdom for Modern Success
So, what’s your strategy? How are you ensuring your tactics aren’t just noise but part of a symphony of success?
Bruce, great reminder. Thank you. I realize after reading this that I have fallen into the tactics first trap. I need to back up and confirm what my desired outcomes are and the high level strategies to pursue them.
That’s because tactics are fun, noisy, colorful, and sexy, Brian, just like you!!!
Hi Bruce,
Really on target and profound. I could even go back and define strategy and tactics.
Thank you.
Thank you Alan. Coming from you, that’s a genuine compliment.
In working with over 3,000 clients in 22 countries over the last 30 years, I never had an owner, CEO, or marketing manager answer the question:
What is your strategy?
At best, they list a few tactics. Usually, they say, “That’s an interesting question.”
That’s where it ends.
PS. Yours is one of the few emails I always read 🙂
I’m glad to hear that, Andrew. Good to have you on-board.
I only ever had one client explain their simple, straightforward strategy to me, Andrew. And that might be fodder for another blog post!!
I did get a lot of tactics disguised as strategies, though, as you did.
Happy new year!
Bruce, I really like your comment about “tactics disguised as strategies.” I likely go down that rabbit hole a bit.
My pleasure, Brian. I have a whole workshop on that subject. Happy to share it with you whenever it’s convenient.