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What separates companies that thrive from those that slowly lose relevance? Often, it comes down to strategy – not just having a plan, but developing the insight and discipline to make better decisions over time.

In this episode of Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder, Dave speaks with strategy expert Rich Horwath, founder of the Strategic Thinking Institute, about what it really means to “be strategic” in today’s business environment. Rich explains why strategy is not the same as goals, planning, or tactics, and shares his definition of strategy as “possessing insight that leads to advantage.”

The conversation explores the biggest reasons strategy breaks down inside organizations, how leaders get trapped in tactical thinking, and the warning signs that indicate a company may be operating without true strategic direction. Rich also introduces his framework built around acumen, allocation, and action – and explains how leaders can apply it to improve decision-making and long-term performance.

Dave and Rich discuss the connection between strategic clarity and enterprise value, the role of tradeoffs in leadership, lessons from companies like Blockbuster, and how AI may accelerate both opportunity and competitive risk. Rich also shares practical habits leaders can implement immediately, including insight journaling, accountability around learning, and creating a shared language of strategy across the organization.

To learn more about Rich Horwath, visit Strategy Skills or connect with Rich Horwath on LinkedIn.

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About Our Guest:

Rich Horwath is the founder and CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute where he serves leadership teams as a strategy workshop facilitator, strategic executive coach, and keynote speaker. His mission is to help executive teams think, plan, and act strategically to set direction, create advantage, and achieve their goals. Rich is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today national bestselling author of eight books, and his work has been featured in publications including Fast Company, Forbes, and the Harvard Business Review.

He has been described by Chief Executive Magazine as “the world’s foremost expert on strategic thinking.” As a former chief strategy officer and professor of strategy at the graduate level, he is able to bring a practical, real-world approach based in strong foundational principles to help executives develop their strategic capabilities.

Rich has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX TV to share his perspectives on current business strategy issues. In addition to his work facilitating strategy workshops for leadership teams and providing executive coaching services and strategic counsel, he is a highly sought-after keynote speaker for groups ranging from 10 to 10,000. Rich has helped more than a quarter million leaders around the world develop their strategic capabilities in pursuit of his vision to teach the world to be strategic.

About the Host:

Dave Bookbinder is known as an expert in business valuation and he is the person that business owners and their advisors reach out to when they need to know what their most important assets are worth. Known as a collaborative adviser, Dave has served thousands of client companies of all sizes and industries.

Dave is the author of two #1 best-selling books about the impact of human capital (PEOPLE!) on the valuation of a business enterprise called The NEW ROI: Return On Individuals & The NEW ROI: Going Behind The Numbers.

He’s on a mission to change the conversation about how the accounting world recognizes the value of people’s contributions to a business enterprise, and to quantify what every CEO on the planet claims: “Our people are this company’s most valuable asset.”

Dave’s book, A Valuation Toolbox for Business Owners and Their Advisors: Things Every Business Owner Should Know, was recognized as a top new release in Business and Valuation and is designed to provide practical insights and tools to help understand what really drives business value, how to prepare for an exit, and just make better decisions.

He’s also the host of the highly rated Behind The Numbers With Dave Bookbinder business podcast which is enjoyed in more than 100 countries.

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The post Why Most Companies Aren’t Really Strategic – Rich Horwath appeared first on The NEW ROI: Return on Individuals.