Most people think strategy is about making a plan and executing it.
“We’ll do X, then Y, then Z.”
But the best strategists don’t start with what to do. They start with who to be.
Your company’s strategy isn’t just a set of tasks—it’s a reflection of your identity. And when you align every action to who you are, the results are not just successful but inevitable.
Let’s break down this powerful insight—and how AI tools like Summarly.io can help reinforce it.
Strategy Is a Commitment to Identity
A strong company doesn’t change direction every quarter. Instead, it decides what it fundamentally stands for—and then aligns every move around that.
Take LEGO.
LEGO doesn’t just make toys. Their identity is about fueling creativity through play.
Because of this, their decisions are predictable (in a good way):
- They expand into education, movies, and digital tools—all reinforcing play-based creativity.
- They reject cheap trends that dilute their brand’s creative essence.
- They keep their core product—the interlocking brick—at the center of their innovations.
Their identity guides their actions—not the other way around.
So how do you apply this to your own business?
Two Phases of Great Strategy
Strategic execution happens in two key phases:
- Becoming Actions – The steps you take to align with your chosen strategy.
- Being Actions – The continuous efforts to strengthen and reinforce your identity over time.
Let’s explore both in depth.
Phase 1: Becoming Actions – Aligning with Your Strategy
When a company sets a strategy, it doesn’t automatically start living it.
There is an initial phase of alignment—where the company needs to do specific things to become what it says it is.
For example, let’s say a brand decides:
“We will be the most sustainable fashion company.”
That statement alone means nothing—until they take becoming actions like:
- Shifting to 100% recycled materials.
- Partnering with fair-trade suppliers.
- Eliminating plastic packaging.
At this stage, they are not yet the leader in sustainability—but they are taking concrete steps to get there.
Becoming actions bridge the gap between strategy as an idea and strategy as reality.
(And here’s where AI tools can help—by tracking strategic progress across teams.)
Phase 2: Being Actions – Strengthening Identity Over Time
Once a company has aligned itself with its strategy, the work isn’t over.
Now, the goal is to reinforce and deepen its strategic position every day.
For example, consider Patagonia.
They don’t just do one sustainability campaign and stop. Instead, their being actions include:
- Continuously improving their supply chain.
- Pioneering corporate responsibility (e.g., donating profits to environmental causes).
- Educating customers on conscious consumerism.
Being actions strengthen strategic identity over time. They ensure that every move a company makes is not just consistent—but compounds its market position.
This is what separates brands that dominate for decades from those that fade after a short burst of success.
The Role of AI in Strategic Execution
You might be wondering: How do companies ensure they stay aligned every single day?
This is where AI-powered tools like Summarly.io play a game-changing role.
AI Note-Takers can:
- Track leadership messaging over time – Ensuring strategic clarity across all levels.
- Analyze decision patterns – Identifying whether day-to-day actions match long-term strategy.
- Highlight misalignment risks – Catching strategy drift before it weakens market positioning.
Strategy Is a Long-Term Commitment—Not a One-Time Plan
Weak strategies focus on tasks.
Strong strategies focus on identity.
If you want to build something truly great:
- Decide who you are.
- Take becoming actions to align your business.
- Use being actions to reinforce and expand your identity.
- Leverage AI insights to track and measure your success.
When your company’s actions naturally flow from its identity, strategy stops being a guessing game—it becomes a competitive advantage that grows stronger over time.
Make Strategy Measurable with AI
Thousands of professionals use Summarly.io to refine leadership communication, track strategic clarity, and ensure alignment.
Try Summarly.io today and turn your strategy into an unstoppable force.
