"simply working hard won't do the trick"

"It is all about priority.
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Unfortunately, most companies lack a unified and integrated approach for addressing market opportunities. Very few have a rigorous set of tools and processes in place that enable them to recognize, prioritize, and set appropriate strategies in a way that maximizes shareholder value. Worse yet, different silos throughout the organization often have different processes in place. It is amazing how many companies—and how many people—I see working effectively in the market space in which they've been operating—without realizing that all of their work is fruitless. No matter how many hours they put in or how well they compete, they're doing it in vain if they are competing in the wrong space—in the part of the market that has low margins or where someone else can squeeze their margins through the ownership of what we will call “strategic control points.” ... If your competitor has a better formulated and executed strategy, simply working hard won't do the trick."

Trecho retirado de "Compete smarter, not harder: a process for developing the right priorities through strategic thinking" de William Putsis.