A great strategy should lead to strong differentiation and lasting results. Ensuring the strategy and culture are aligned can enhance execution and enable you to create something really special.

I think about strategy as, what are the key puzzle pieces that describe approaches or actions you can take in pursuit of the mission, that are uniquely yours to take. What are the things that you can do, that others cannot do?

These puzzle pieces should start to connect together, so that when you combine them, the results are greater than the outcomes of the individual actions alone.

This is where culture comes in. If you can cultivate a culture that is specific to the values of the company and aligns with all the individuals involved, and also supports the execution of those puzzle pieces, that's where you start to experience magic.