I'm a strategist who knows how to implement. I've been doing this for a while, and I've discovered a number of core beliefs that serve me well.* Choose work carefully. Everything can be improved, but not everything should be. Take the time to understand what's most important, and what is not. It's wasteful to work on the unimportant.* Use the power of teams. Our best work is done together. Understand each person's skills and aptitudes and assign work based on the highest and best use of everyone. Let people shine, build them up, teach them, and set their goals high. * Ask questions and listen to answers. Uncover all available information. Seek out contrarian voices and the devil's advocate. Get the quiet ones to speak. Think about what's said, and what isn't, and why. * Develop and tell the story. A well-told story gives the stakeholders everything they need to take action. A good strategist can tell stories well, with a complete yet pithy context, a compelling complication, and a actionable solution.