Lesson 1.1 What is Strategy ?
Hello and welcome to your very first lesson of the Strategy Course on Study Buddy Shareline. I’m so glad you’re here, because this journey isn’t just about learning some fancy concepts—it’s about learning a skill that can change the way you study, work, and even live your everyday life.
So let’s begin with the most basic question: What exactly is strategy?
Part 1: Defining Strategy Simply
Strategy, in its simplest form, is a plan of action designed to achieve a specific goal.
But here’s the catch—it’s not just any plan. It’s a plan that considers your resources, your challenges, and the smartest path forward.
Think of strategy as the map, and tactics as the steps you take on the road. Without the map, the steps might take you somewhere… but maybe not where you actually wanted to go.
Part 2: Example – Busy vs. Strategic
Let’s take a simple example.
Imagine two people preparing for a marathon.
- Person A wakes up every day and just runs randomly—sometimes long distances, sometimes short, with no tracking, no recovery, no nutrition plan.
- Person B, on the other hand, has a clear schedule: they increase mileage weekly, track their pace, eat properly, and rest on specific days.
Now, both are working hard, but only one is working strategically. Which one do you think will reach the finish line stronger?
Yes—the one with the strategy.
The lesson here is powerful: hard work without direction is just activity. But hard work with strategy becomes progress.
Part 3: Why Strategy Matters in Everyday Life
Now, you might be thinking: “Okay, that works for marathons, but what about me?”
The truth is—you’re already using strategy in small ways. For example:
- When you decide to cook a meal, you don’t just throw random ingredients together. You plan the dish, gather the right items, and then cook step by step.
- When you prepare for a meeting, you don’t just walk in unprepared. You think of what to say, how to present, and what outcome you want.
That’s strategy. The difference is, many times we apply it unconsciously in small things, but we forget to use it consciously in big things—like studies, career, health, or relationships.
Part 4: Strategy vs. No Strategy
Here’s another way to look at it:
Without strategy → life feels like constant firefighting—you’re just reacting to whatever happens.
With strategy → life feels like you’re playing chess—you’re moving pieces with purpose, thinking three steps ahead.
Part 5: Reflection Prompt
Now it’s your turn. Take a pause after this lesson and think:
👉 Where in your life right now are you “running without a map”?
👉 Maybe it’s your studies, maybe it’s your finances, or maybe it’s your daily routine.
Just write it down. Don’t overthink it. That’s the starting point for building your strategy.
Part 6: Closing Note
So to sum up:
- Strategy is not just about action, but planned action toward a clear goal.
- It helps you use your time, energy, and resources wisely.
- And it turns effort into meaningful results.
In our next lesson, we’ll dive deeper into how strategy is different from tactics, and why most people confuse the two.
Until then, remember this line:
✨ “Being busy is not the same as being strategic.”
Thank you for listening, and I’ll meet you in the next lesson.”
Extras for Lesson 1.1 (to add in Study Buddy Shareline)
- 📄 PDF Notes:
- Strategy = Map, Tactics = Steps.
- Hard work + Direction = Progress.
- Without strategy → reactive life. With strategy → proactive life.
- 📝 Worksheet Prompt:
- Write down 1 area where you’re working hard but without a clear plan.
- Write one sentence: “If I had a strategy here, it would look like…”