The Future of Strategy is Energy: Why Being the Best Isn’t Enough Anymore
In a world where artificial intelligence is transforming everything, from how we work to how we think, I’ve been asking myself a fundamental question:
What does strategy even mean anymore?
For over a century, we’ve clung to strategic frameworks like they’re gospel. From Frederick Taylor’s Principles of Scientific Management to SWOT analysis, Porter’s Five Forces, and Blue Ocean Strategy we built our businesses around structured, methodical thinking.
But that world?
It’s dead.
We’re now in an era where strategy isn’t about data, spreadsheets, or frameworks. It’s about energy.
The Strategic Shift in an AI-Driven World
Strategic models were born in a time of scarcity of knowledge, of capital, of access. The people with the best insights or the deepest pockets won.
But now? Generative AI has democratized competition.
With tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Claude, and others now freely available, anyone can build, launch, and disrupt instantly.
Just like clean water and sanitation transformed societies, AI is transforming industries fastly.
We’re in an era where:
Anyone can be a competitor.
You don’t need a massive budget to build.
You don’t need a team of analysts to find insights.
You don’t even need formal training to create, code, or launch.
The old rules no longer apply. The traditional playbook has been burned.
AI has removed the traditional barriers to entry. Access to knowledge, creativity, and execution is no longer limited to the elite.
Now, strategy isn’t about resource control anymore it’s about resourceful thinking.
Strategy = Energy
Here’s the real shift:
Strategy is no longer just a document. It’s energy.
It’s the spark that ignites people.
It’s the ambition that drives culture.
It’s the force that pulls others toward your vision.
We’ve got to stop treating strategy as a static plan and start embracing it as a living, breathing force of inspiration.
Because if your strategy doesn’t spark something in your people, if it doesn’t give them goosebumps it’s not a strategy. It’s just slides.
Bold Aspirations > Best Practices
Forget the safe goals. Forget business as usual.
Strategy today must begin with boldness.
The organizations that will win are the ones asking bigger, braver questions:
What do we truly want to become?
Are we chasing metrics or meaning?
Are we trying to be the best or be different?
In this AI-powered world, boldness isn’t optional. It’s a survival skill.
It’s not about chasing perfection.
It’s about pursuing a purpose that actually matters.
Connect with the People Who Matter Most
If your strategy doesn't connect with the people on the ground, it will never take flight.
Your employees aren’t just executors, they're co-authors.
Your stakeholders aren’t just recipients, they're collaborators.
The best strategies are built on personal connection and cultural alignment.
If your strategy reflects their mission, they’ll champion it like it’s their own.
That’s where the real magic happens.
Cultural Literacy + Technological Fluency = Strategic Power
In this AI-powered era, you can’t craft meaningful strategy if you don’t understand the world around you.
That means:
Tracking cultural shifts, not just quarterly trends
Understanding how tech is reshaping behavior
Staying adaptable and iterative, not rigid and reactive
Because today, it’s not enough to understand your market.
You need to understand your culture and your technology.
The organizations that win? They stay culturally awake and technologically agile.
They don’t just follow trends, they anticipate them.
They speak the language of their audience.
They know what resonates today, not what worked five years ago.
Be Unique, Not Just the Best
One of the biggest myths about strategy is that it's about being “the best.”
But in a world where everyone has access to the same tools, best is meaningless.
If you’re still trying to beat your competitors at their own game, you’ve already lost.
Because the best isn’t always memorable.
The best doesn’t always win.
The Best is subjective, temporary, and let’s be honest, often boring.
The only sustainable advantage is being unmistakably, unapologetically unique:
Unique in your mission
Unique in your culture
Unique in how you show up in the world
So instead of asking How do we become the best? Ask:
What makes us irreplaceable?
What can only we do, in only our way?
Because what people actually want, what they remember, is what makes you unique.
Your quirks, your story, your weirdness. That’s your strategy.
That’s how you earn loyalty. That’s how you build brands that last.
Final Thought: Strategy Must Inspire, Not Just Instruct
We’re living in a time when tools are available to all, knowledge is no longer a barrier, and technology shifts daily.
This moment demands a new kind of strategy, one built on boldness, connection, and cultural intelligence.
AI has leveled the playing field. The future belongs to those who can energize people, embrace uniqueness, and ask deeper questions.
Your greatest advantage?
It’s not a framework.
It’s not a budget.
It’s energy.
The energy to inspire, adapt, be bold, and stand out.
So no, being the best isn’t enough anymore.
It never really was.
The question isn’t: How do we win?
The real question is: How do we matter?
About the Author:
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.