Business executives could learn a lot from cheetahs, Earth’s most agile land animals. Though their ancestors ran only about 20 miles per hour, today’s cats can accelerate from zero to 60 within three seconds — faster than a Corvette Twin Turbo or a Ferrari Enzo. But speed alone is not what makes cheetahs such awesome hunters. Computer models show that the best predictor of a successful hunt is not a cheetah’s top speed; rather, it’s how fast it stops and turns.
Start Stopping Faster
Ending wasteful projects sooner will save money — and free you to pursue better opportunities.
September 22, 2020
Summary.
A perennial executive challenge is stopping mediocre to failing businesses and projects sooner rather than later. But only by doing so can they free up the resources needed to pursue more opportunities. Three ways to get better at killing things sooner is to make decisions reversible (e.g., by conducting more experiments), make work more visible to everyone so it’s easier to see what work is being done and how well it’s going, and overpower the fear of failure and not having a job if someone’s current project is killed.
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Business Plan Development Course
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Learn how to create a winning business plan.
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New!
HBR Learning
Business Plan Development Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Business Plan Development. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Learn how to create a winning business plan.