On Tradeoffs

“The sign of a good strategy is that it makes some customers unhappy.” - Michael Porter, Understanding Michael Porter

A lot of businesses try to hedge. They use what's called formally a "straddling strategy".

It's basically trying to keep two opposing strategies in play simultaneously.

And they lose because the strategies cannibalize shared resources.

Tradeoffs are essential.

Yes you may neglect a market or an audience, but you're also focusing on the right ones.

You will, no doubt, lose some. But you will win more.