Defining Your Field of Play: The Strategic Power of Saying No

Why knowing what NOT to pursue is essential to achieving your Winning Aspiration

Your Winning Aspiration gives your business purpose.
But purpose without constraint is just potential.

If you want focused execution, scalable growth, and a business that performs without your constant direction—then you need to define your Field of Play.

This is the second essential move in our Strategic Planning series:
Choose what you’ll focus on—and what you’ll consciously leave out.

Why ‘What’ Matters as Much as ‘Why’

Imagine you’ve just rallied your team with a bold vision.
Everyone walks out of the room fired up to take action.

Now here’s the catch:
Each of them—smart, creative, driven—leaves with a different idea of what to do next.
If you have 10 people, you now have 30 strategies.

This is where businesses drift. Not from lack of ambition—but from lack of constraint.

Field of Play: Where Focus Gets Real

Your Field of Play defines the boundaries that turn energy into results.
It answers the question: Where will we win?

Roger Martin’s questions are the gold standard here—and they deserve more than a quick skim:

1. Which customers will we serve?
   What segments benefit most from our unique strengths?

2. Which geographies will we prioritize?
   Local, national, global? Where’s the opportunity richest—and most aligned?

3. Which offerings will we double down on?
   What products/services best position us to win?

4. Which channels will we use to reach them?
   How do we connect most efficiently and effectively?

5. Which parts of the value chain will we own?
   Where do we play to our strengths—and where do we partner or let go?

These decisions aren't tactical—they're strategic constraints.
And they’re what make your vision executable.

Why Most Teams Skip This—and Pay for It

Skipping this step leads to:

• Scattershot initiatives

• Burned-out teams

• Conflicting priorities

• Slow, uneven progress

When everything seems like a good idea, nothing becomes a great execution.

The Hidden Power of Constraints

Well-chosen constraints don’t limit your growth.
They accelerate it.

They allow your team to channel creativity, energy, and decision-making in a shared direction.

Clarity creates confidence.
Confidence creates momentum.
Momentum creates scale.

Strategic Planning Isn’t Just About Vision—It’s About Precision

The companies that scale sustainably revisit their Field of Play every year—not because it’s broken, but because the world has changed.

Market conditions shift.
Customer needs evolve.
And what worked last year may not create value next year.

This is the discipline of staying sharp—and building a business that wins on purpose.

How Smart Business Owners
are Risk-Proofing Their Companies

Download the guide now and start risk-proofing your business for a resilient, scalable future.