Rock & Sand Master Class: Creating A Great Strategic Plan

Welcome to the Rock & Sand Master Class. This module will give you some things to think about before embarking on creating Baseline Growth Roadmap using the Rock & Sand Model.

Understanding what "Strategic Thinking" Really Is

Setting Up a Welcoming Environment for the team you will be leading through this class

Being Flexible with the Process and Order of the Modules

Realize that You'll Need a Coach to get the Best Outcome

The Basic Format of each Module

This module presents the complete picture of the Rock & Sand Model so you can see how all parts of the model fit together to bridge the gap between strategy and execution. And how it all fits into the Baseline Growth Roadmap. This works well for both preparation for the rest of the course, and as and agenda for the creation of your plan.

This is your starting point.

Who do you serve? What do you do for them? Why is this important? Can everyone on your team answer these three questions? Can you easily explain this to them? You and your team will be able to do so after you complete this module.

If you don't know your Core Values, your team won't be able to live them and you won't be able to reinforce them and build a sustainable culture. This module will help you identify and define your Core Values, an essential part of your culture. So you can catch people doing things right and tell them.

Your Core Customers, the ones you love and in turn love you, aren't buying because you are the best at what you do. They buy because you're solving a bigger problem than the immediate one in front of them.

In this module you'll learn why your customers are really buying from you, and build a brand promise that attracts more customers just like them and catches the attention of others too.

Core Strengths are what got you here in the first place. You need to build them and sustain them, to get around your weaknesses.

The module will help you make sure your organization stays strong and get stronger.

A Big Hairy Audacious Goal gives your team something to shoot for and brag about. A way from them to know they are part of something bigger than themselves that they are contributing to.

It gives them something important to fight for that they want to be a part of.

Use this module to think bigger about your business and set a long term direction for your company.

Key Targets (or 3 Year Highly Achievable Goal) tell you what you can reasonably achieve in the next three years. You'll learn how your team can create one that they will commit to and achieve.

What got you here won't get you there. What will have to be different or added to make the 3HAG come true? That's what "Bridges to the Future" are, the major chess moves that make sure you get to where you want to go.

What get's measured get's done. You will learn how to measure your progress on both Rocks and Sand by using Critical Numbers that measure results (lagging indicators) and the actions that will deliver the results ( leading indicators).

So you won't ever be "out of whack" for long!

You've set long term goals (BHAG) and medium range goals (3HAG). What are you going to do in the upcoming year and in the next ninety days?

This module brings your strategy to the here and now. It turns your strategy into concrete action.

Push the Sand and Move the Rocks!

Who needs more meetings. Me either. But by having the right kind of meetings, done well, many of the other meetings you think are necessary go away.

Problems and opportunities will come to the fore and be solved before you ask about them, and the Rocks will stay front of mind and get moved.

Build a "meeting rhythm" that will move the Rocks and keep you moving forward.

More on meeting rhythm and why you need it and how it works.

This time explained in front of a studio audience.

Pomp and Circumstance. Celebrate. Print out your diploma! You've completed the Rock & Sand Master Class.