Marketing Spoonful

I had the pleasure of watching Andy Roddick beat some Brazilian dude named Belucci at the Australian Open last night, and I was really impressed.

Usually, Roddick seems to have this firepower and intensity that is almost palpable. But last night, it was as if he was guiding each shot to place the ball exactly where he wanted it, rather than trying to overpower his opponent by striking the ball really hard.

I thought to myself: What a great metaphor for business and marketing; to use finesse rather than brute force to accomplish one’s goals.

Now don’t get me wrong. Sometimes you have to put a little heat on the ball to mix things up and get the job done. But more often than not, winning is more about placing the ball, so to speak, rather than trying to hit past your opponent.

Think about it. If your competitors know where you’re going, they can anticipate your next move and get to the spot to intercept your shot, no matter how hard you hit it. But if they don’t know where you’re going and you hit your mark, it’s going to be more difficult for them to react.

Take the time to think about the shot, pick your spot and put it there. Most of the time, you’ll be more effective than if you simply rear back, wind up and swing away.

Tags: business strategy, finesse, food marketing blog, marketing strategy, sports and business, Strategy