Comments on: (Un)Proven Strategies

By: Steve Hoffacker

Steve Hoffacker — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:47:59 +0000

Allen,
“Proven” strategies just mean that they have demonstrable results. This does not imply that they are “perfect” solutions or that this is a “theory” where one incidence of it not working would disprove its value or truth. No, a proven strategy means that it has worked successfully in the past (more than once) and that more likely than not in a similar situation it will work again. That’s all.
Steve

By: patmcgraw

patmcgraw — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:26:13 +0000

Isn’t the implied promise that the strategy succeeded at one point in time? It’s not guaranteed success…so I read the offer this way “We’ll give you strategies that have worked for others…and if you use it properly, in the right setting, and properly execute around it, it might work for you too!”
But then again, I am rather skeptical about marketing, messaging and offers after all these years in the biz!

By: Paul Barsch

Paul Barsch — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:09:09 +0000

Alan, I think that’s why a lot of consulting companies use the term “best practices” instead of “proven strategies”. Best practices are a codification of leading edge, efficient and “what works in the field” practices, and not necessarily “best” for all companies or situations.