239 Anthony Taylor - The Obstacle Is the Way

Anthony Taylor is the CEO and senior strategic planning facilitator at SME Strategy. He holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a specialization in marketing and a Certified Associate in Project Management designation. Anthony combines academic expertise with over a decade of hands-on entrepreneurial experience across various industries. As the author of “I Wish I Knew”, he shares key insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In 2016, he was named a Global Entrepreneurship Week Ambassador for Canada, and SME Strategy earned the Palme Blue for "Microenterprise of the Year" from the French Chamber of Commerce. Anthony also hosts the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, engaging with thought leaders on strategic insights. He is fluent in French and has a personal goal to visit every MLB stadium.

In this episode Jason and Anthony discuss:

• Anthony’s journey in strategic planning and passion for baseball
• Overcoming an embezzlement incident to pursue purpose-driven consulting
• Core elements of strategic planning: defining goals, prioritizing actions, and addressing obstacles
• Importance of team alignment, challenge identification, and roadmap development
• Adapting strategic plans to changing environments with a focus on goal achievement over rigid paths

Key Takeaways: 

• Strategic planning underscores the importance of a unified vision, which leaders must cultivate to guide teams toward shared goals and success.
• Conversations that allow participants to shape their own strategies foster accountability and personal growth, making team alignment more effective.
• Flexibility through iterative strategic planning is essential for adapting to a changing global landscape and taking advantage of emerging opportunities.
• The ultimate focus lies in helping individuals reach their goals, rather than rigidly adhering to initial plans, encouraging responsiveness to real-time needs.
• Integrating behavioral science into strategic planning can enhance outcomes, as aligning perspectives and communication supports team cohesion and shared success.

“People don’t care about your strategy, your strategic plan, or your priorities—they only want to know what it means to them and how they can succeed. If you’re leading an organization, ask your people: What does winning look like to you? Because when you help others get what they want, that’s when you truly win as a leader.”- Anthony Taylor

Connect with Anthony Taylor:

Website: https://www.smestrategy.net/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604/ 

Connect with Steve and Jason:

LinkedIn: Jason or Steve

Website: Rewire, Inc.: Transformed Thinking 

Email: grow@rewireinc.com

Show notes by: Angelo Paul Tagama

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.