The Key to Better Strategy

Antonette Green
May 15, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

Before I left the workforce (a story for a different time), I had a job helping oversee large accounts. I learned a lot at that job, and there is one thing that my boss taught me that I use every day.

My boss would often say “Before you do anything, always start by asking yourself “What am I doing?” and “Why am I doing it?”

I was in sales; and in sales, knowing the when, how, and why is crucial. If you engage too soon or come heavy-handed, you could scare off a prospect or potentially lead to unfavorable negotiations. But if you engage too late or are passive, you could lose out on a sale and a valuable connection.

So, before I reached out to a potential buyer or followed up with a current one, I would ask myself “What am I doing? Why am I doing this?”

And now, when I am trying to figure out my next steps, pausing and asking myself these same two questions has saved me a headache or two.

Why These Two Questions Are So Powerful

“What am I doing?” and “Why am I doing this?” are powerful because with them comes clarity, as they often lead to other important questions.

*“What am I doing?”* leads to:	*“Why am I doing this?”* leads to:
“Is this the right thing to do? Is now the right time to do this?” “Does this make sense?” “What’s the plan?” “Am I rushing this?” “Am I overthinking it?” Is there a better, simpler way to do this?” “Am I missing something?” “Do I have what I need?” “Are they ready for this? Am I?” “Should I be the one doing this? If not, who?” “Do I need help?"	“Why is this important to do?” “Where did this idea come from?” “Am I trying to be like someone else?” “Is this on-brand for my vision?” “What do I hope to gain from this?” “Is that hope based on reality?”

Stepping back to assess, take stock, and understand your motivations saves time and money, cuts down stress, and lets you take clear, confident actions toward your goals that align with your vision that helps others. Skip it, and you'll end up with scattered actions, a lot of stress, and confusion for everyone.

Intentionality is Key

Every action you take either helps or hurts your vision. It’s not about perfection. It’s about intentionality. And the more intentional you are with your actions, the better the outcomes.

Think of your actions like putting together a puzzle. If you’re missing a piece, the puzzle is incomplete. If you force pieces where it doesn’t belong, it falls apart.

You may be saying right now:

"Antonette, I'm not a marketer or a strategist."

You are the primary marketer and strategist for your vision. This isn't meant to intimidate, but to empower you. While you don't have to execute everything yourself, the ultimate decision regarding your vision's direction should always rest with you.

or "Antonette, I don't know the first thing about coming up with strategies for my vision."

You do—you know your vision best and whether things fit with it. And you are already strategizing—always thinking about how to make your vision better, the next steps to take. You wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t.

Last Thoughts

So, before you make your next connection, plan your next move - big or small, write your next email copy, make your next social media post, or plan your to-dos for the week for your vision, ask yourself:

“What am I doing?”

“Why am I doing this?”

You may be surprised where the answers will take you.

Putting It into Action

Over the next two weeks:

Get in the practice of asking. Before you do anything, intentionally ask yourself:
- "What am I doing”
- “Why am I doing this?

The more you do it, the more it will become second nature.

Take your time when answering these questions. Let the answers and the follow-up questions come naturally. Take deep breaths as you think about these questions and keep doing so until you feel the anxiety leave your body. Because when your mind and body are calm, the easier the answers will come.
Ask anyways. Even if you feel confident about what you’re doing, still take a moment to step back and ask yourself these questions. You may find you're overlooking a crucial or different perspective that you didn’t think about before. And if your answers reveal that you’re not, well then, you’re good to go!