The Hedgehog and the Fox

Are you a hedgehog or a fox in business? ’The Hedgehog and the Fox’ by Isaiah Berlin describes how the world can be divided into two types. The wily fox is cunning and knows many things, using various complex strategies to attack the hedgehog. Whereas the hedgehog is single-minded and only knows one big thing- rolling up into a perfect sphere of sharp spikes to defend itself against the fox. Surprisingly, the stubborn hedgehog always wins despite the many different tactics the crafty fox uses.

The Core Focus™ Concept

In business strategy the Hedgehog Concept is developed in the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. It is not a goal to be the best, a strategy to be the best, an intention to be the best, or a plan to be the best. It is an understanding of what you can be the best at – and sticking to it – a distinction that is absolutely crucial. The Hedgehog Concept, or Core Focus™ as EOS® calls it, is defined as the sweet spot intersection of two circles, as follows:

1. What you are deeply passionate about? The idea is not to stimulate passion but to (re)discover what you love doing and focus on those activities.
2. What can you be the best in the world at? (and, equally important what you can’t be the best at). If you can’t be great at your core business, then your core business can’t form the basis of your Hedgehog Concept.

Find Clarity In Your Business

Defining your Hedgehog Concept is about clarifying what you do and why you do it. This is an iterative process. How valuable are these ideas on strategy when most leadership teams have too much to do already? It’s all about clarity. A clear strategy and vision ultimately leads to clarity with your people, your suppliers and your customers. Clarity translates into focus. With the increased intensity of focus, your people will accomplish more. Strategy drives revenue. If your company doesn’t want to grow, then these strategy elements will fall on deaf ears. Of course there’s a danger in not growing. As Ray Kroc, founder of McDonalds said, “When you’re green you grow; when you’re ripe, you rot.”

Whether or not you’re a stubborn hedgehog or a wily fox in business, understanding of what you can be the best in business at and stubbornly sticking to it, is a proven key to success. The Entrepreneurial Operating System® is a blueprint for building a growth-focused company. If you own a business and are feeling frustrated, stuck or unhappy there are a number of steps you can take today.

Next Steps:

• Download a copy of the EOS V/TO™ to help you clarify, simplify, and achieve your vision
• Request a free 90-Minute Meeting with an EOS Implementer to get a clear picture of what it looks like to run your company on EOS.
• Download a free chapter of Get a Grip to learn practical ways to use EOS in your company.