Strategic planning often feels like a necessary evil at growth-stage companies.

You gather the team. You set bold goals. Someone writes up a glossy strategy doc. It all sounds ambitious—transformational, even. But a few weeks later, nothing’s changed. Execution feels scattered. Priorities multiply instead of narrowing.

It’s not for lack of effort. Your team is running hard—but toward what, exactly?

That’s the problem. Strategy, at its core, isn’t about running faster. It’s about deciding where to run—and just as importantly, where not to.

A Simple Shift That Changes Everything

Lately, I’ve been coming back to an old idea: Jim Collins’ Hedgehog Concept from Good to Great.

It’s not a buzzword or a shiny framework. It’s a decision-making filter—a way to cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.

The idea is simple:

• What are you deeply passionate about?

• What can you be the best in the world at?

• What drives your economic engine?

At the intersection of these three lies the work that can transform your team. It’s not just about what’s “good” or “viable.” It’s about what’s great.

How This Works in the Real World

Here’s the thing about growth-stage companies: the opportunities don’t stop coming. New markets, product ideas, partnerships—they all seem urgent, exciting, and full of potential.

But chasing everything spreads your energy too thin. You lose focus. Your team burns out.

The Hedgehog Concept forces a pause. It asks hard questions:

• Are we truly passionate about this?

• Do we have the skills and resources to excel here?

• Will this move the needle for our business?

If the answer isn’t a resounding “yes” for all three, it’s time to let it go.

Clarity Creates Speed

I used this framework in a recent planning session with a startup team. They came in with a laundry list of goals for the next year—twelve, to be exact. Everything seemed important.

But as we worked through the Hedgehog questions, something surprising happened. Half the goals didn’t make it through the filter. They weren’t aligned with the company’s core strengths or long-term growth engine.

By the end of the session, they weren’t just clear on what to focus on—they were excited about it. The clutter was gone. The path forward felt obvious.

This clarity didn’t just make planning easier. It gave the team something more valuable: the confidence to execute without second-guessing.

Why It Matters for Leaders

Here’s what leaders often miss: clarity isn’t just about focus. It’s about empowerment.

When your team knows exactly where to focus, they don’t need to check every decision with you. They move faster. They trust their judgment. And you can spend more time shaping the vision, not policing the details.

The Hedgehog Concept gives you a tool to build that clarity. It’s not just a one-time exercise—it’s a framework you can return to, over and over, as new opportunities and challenges arise.

A Better Way to Start

If strategic planning feels overwhelming, try this: don’t start with a long document or a list of OKRs. Start with the Hedgehog Concept.

Map out the three circles. Answer the questions honestly. Hold your priorities up to this lens and see what survives.

You’ll find some things don’t make the cut—and that’s the point. The more you say “no,” the more space you create for the work that matters most.

From Good to Great

Growth-stage companies thrive on momentum. But momentum without focus is chaos.

The Hedgehog Concept doesn’t just help you prioritize. It helps you build a team that thinks strategically, acts decisively, and moves faster because they’re no longer bogged down by uncertainty.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck in “good,” start here. Great isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right things, with clarity and purpose.

Are you ready to find your three circles?