Here are a few thoughts on strategy—jotted down in the middle of a busy train station in Milan.
If you have been watching my stories on instagram, then you know that I kayak every sunrise – summer or winter. When I kayak, the sidewinds often have other plans. Fighting them head-on to take the shortest route is exhausting and inefficient. But I’ve learned a better way: start by paddling against the wind, leaning into it, and then let the curve carry you forward. The result? A longer, gentler arc instead of a grueling straight line—and a journey that’s not just easier, but more satisfying.
The shortcut is tempting, but it’s rarely the answer. It drains your energy, dulls your passion, and leaves your reputation in tatters.
Strategy isn’t about speed. It’s about becoming. You bloom when you’re ready, not when someone else’s timeline says you should. “Fake it till you make it” is misunderstood. It’s not about pretending to be something you’re not—it’s about believing in the person you’re becoming. Serve your clients, your team, your people as who you truly are today. Pretending isn’t strategy; it’s a gamble.
Slow, intentional growth matters. Introspection comes first. Self-promotion comes later. Becoming isn’t just a process—it’s a promise to yourself. A promise filled with hope, potential, and the thrill of what’s next.
(This is the sea where I kayak. As you have guessed, it’s not always this calm.)
