Why Strategy Isn’t About Trying Harder, It’s About Removing Resistance
- Brainz Magazine
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Guled Farah is known for his thought-provoking approach to coaching and facilitation, especially among leadership communities in parts of Asia. He blends deep listening, independent thinking, and cultural insight to help clients navigate complexity with clarity
Strategy isn’t about working harder, it’s about removing resistance. Most people misunderstand strategy by equating it with effort, rigid plans, or pushing through obstacles. True strategy is about foresight, positioning, and removing the barriers before they appear. Whether it’s weight loss, business success, or productivity, the key to strategic success is eliminating friction, not fighting it. In this article, we explore how to shift your mindset and approach to strategy for better outcomes with less struggle.
Why the smartest strategists look lazy (and win anyway)
“The most strategic people often look lazy. They don’t grind harder – they design smarter. Here’s why you’ve been thinking about strategy all wrong.”
We admire hustle. We celebrate the grind. But real strategy? It’s quiet, almost invisible. A river doesn’t smash through rock – it flows around it. Strategy works the same way.
The best outcomes don’t come from working harder. They come from removing what’s in the way.
3 common strategy myths that are slowing you down
We confuse strategy with effort. Or with having a detailed plan. Or with pushing until we break through. But most friction isn’t a test of will, it’s a design flaw.
Mistake #1: “If I just work harder, I’ll succeed.”
No. Effort without direction is just movement.
Mistake #2: “A detailed plan guarantees results.”
No. Plans break. Systems adapt.
Mistake #3: “Strategy is for CEOs and generals.”
No. It’s for anyone who wants better outcomes with less struggle. Strategy is not about pushing. It’s about positioning.
Real strategy isn’t force – it’s foresight
Strategy isn’t about force, it’s about foresight. It removes obstacles before they appear so progress feels… almost effortless.
Like a chess master, you don’t just react, you shape the board so that even your opponent’s best move helps you.
The shift is this:
From “How do I push through?”
To “What’s blocking me and how can I remove it?”
How to remove hidden resistance: health, business, and productivity fixes that work
1. Weight loss: Don’t fight temptation – eliminate it
You go grocery shopping while hungry. That’s when the chips, the cookies, the sugar bombs seem irresistible.
Why? Because in that moment, your brain isn’t thinking long-term, it’s scanning for the quickest reward. Strategy isn’t resisting the craving – it’s removing the setup.
Strategic move: Shop after eating. Now junk food doesn’t even look good.
2. Business: Don’t shout louder – build a megaphone
Most businesses are busy yelling into the void: “Buy our product!” That’s not strategy, it’s desperation.
Strategy is making your product the obvious solution.
Example: Tesla didn’t run commercials. It made electric cars aspirational. The design, the performance, the story it sold itself.
Strategic move: Don’t chase attention. Build something worth talking about.
3. Productivity: Track before you tackle
People download productivity apps, buy planners, try new hacks. But they’re treating symptoms, not causes.
You can’t optimize what you don’t understand.
Strategic move: Track your time for a week. No judgment. Just observe.
You’ll find your energy leaks: 45 minutes on email here, 20 minutes scrolling there. You don’t need a new system, you need to see the friction.
A 3-step framework to think more strategically every day
Ask yourself these three questions:
What’s the hidden obstacle?
(Hunger → junk food decisions. Noise → unclear messaging. Distraction → energy leaks.)
Can I make it irrelevant?
(Eat before shopping. Focus on your product’s story. Track before changing.)
What aligns naturally?
(Design around habits that already exist. Work with momentum, not against it.)
Strategic flexibility: Why the best plans flow, not fight
Real strategy bends. It flows. It adjusts. It’s less about perfect plans and more about resilient systems.
You don’t win by being rigid. You win by removing what stops you, before it stops you. Like a judo master, you don’t overpower your opponent, you use their force against them.
Stop forcing it: One strategic shift to try this week
Where are you forcing effort instead of removing friction?
Pick one area this week and try this:
Eliminate first. Execute second.
You might be surprised how far you go once the resistance is gone.
Written by Guled Farah, Facilitator, Business Strategist & Coach
Guled Farah is a coach, facilitator, and independent thinker who helps individuals and teams navigate uncertainty with clarity and confidence. Drawing from a life shaped by cultural integration and deep curiosity, Guled combines emotional intelligence, systems thinking, and bold creativity to challenge conventional assumptions. His coaching focuses on building psychological safety, unlocking independent thinking, and shifting teams from friction to flow. With a unique voice that bridges science, philosophy, and leadership, he empowers clients to think for themselves—and lead with purpose.
