One-Page Strategy Map: A Clear Plan Any CEO Can Use to Align the Team

1. Purpose

Why do we exist?

Keep it clear, benefit-driven & under 15 words.

Example: "We help people ship anything, anywhere, in under 24 hours."

2. Vision

Where we'll be in 3-5 years.

Prompt your thinking:

• Where will we stand globally?
• Who wins the most because we exist?
• What headline will Forbes write about us?
• How is the world different because of us?

Checklist for a clear vision:

1. Date: Pick a specific year.
2. Customer: Who are we built to serve?
3. Outcome: One bold, measurable result.
4. Emotion: One word for how people will feel.

Example: By 2028, our "Send-Anywhere" platform helps 50M people ship across borders in 24 hours. All while cutting carbon per package by 50%. We're called "the FedEx of the digital age."

3. Advantage

What sets us apart, and keeps us ahead.

Ask yourself:

• What do we do 10x better than anyone else?
• What can't be copied in a year (data, tech, brand)?
• What proof backs each claim?
• What do we need to protect or grow today?

Common competitive edges (aka moats):

• Price leader
• Unique speed
• Beloved brand
• Proprietary tech
• Exclusive network

Example: Network: 200,000 couriers in 130 countries. AI Routing: 30% faster delivery. Next Move: Quarterly upgrades to route accuracy.

4. Execution

How we turn strategy into motion.

90-day game plan:

1. 3 Key Moves — Start with a verb
2. Owner + Date — One name, one deadline
3. Weekly Check-In — Green / Yellow / Red
4. CEO Blitz — Remove one blocker weekly

Fast filters:

• What starts this week?
• What can we cut?
• Who needs a yes/ no today?

Example Plan:

Action	Owner	Due	Status
Action	Owner	Due	Status
Open EU Hub	Lina	Jul 31
Series B Pitch Deck	Omar	Aug 15
Beta to 1,000 Users	Yuki	Sep 10

5. Metrics

How we measure what matters.

Pick 4 scorecard categories:

1. Money — Runway, gross margin
2. Growth — Weekly users, revenue
3. Customer — On-time %, churn
4. Love — NPS, referral rate

Traffic Light System:

• Green: Stay the course
• Yellow: Flag at stand-up
• Red: Fix in 48 hours (CEO owns it)

Example Metrics:

Metric	Target	Review
Cash Runway	12 mo	Monthly
New Users / Week	25,000	Weekly
On-Time Delivery	≥ 95%	Weekly
NPS	≥ 70	Quarterly