No Bulls**t Strategy with Alex Smith: Why Strategy Is a Doing Discipline, Not a Thinking Exercise

Most organisations overthink strategy and underdo it.

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones sits down with Alex Smith, author of No Bullsh**t Strategy, to explore why strategy has drifted into a thinking exercise instead of a doing discipline.

Alex explains why the fundamentals of strategy are simple, why leaders obsess over the wrong things, and why the real work starts when you make a move your competitors cannot or will not copy. From diagnosing industry flaws to the value of sacrifice and contrarian thinking, this is a grounded conversation that cuts through jargon and brings strategy back to action.

🔍 In this episode:

• Only as better than best: why out-competing rarely works
 • Sacrifice as the engine of real innovation
 • Strategy as a doing discipline
 • The macro vs micro problem in organisations
 • Why language corrupts strategic thinking
 • Why customer obsession kills good strategy
 • Diagnosing industry problems, not customer problems
 • Simple execution that people can actually act on

🎧 Keywords: Strategy, No Bulls**t Strategy, Competitive Advantage, Industry Diagnosis, Strategic Simplicity, Execution, Action, Contrarian Strategy, Leadership, Decision Making

📘 Alex’s Work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-m-h-smith/

📬 Connect with Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones

🌐 Full episodes: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategy-meets-reality

Send Mike a Message

Enjoying the show?

Subscribe and leave a review on your favourite platform — it helps more people find the podcast.

🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

📺 Watch on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@StrategyMeetsReality

Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/