Congratulations, You Created a Strategic Plan. Does Anyone Know What They are Doing on Monday?

When you think of strategic planning, how does it make you feel?

For me, it’s energizing. I’m scribbling notes, connecting dots, and imagining overnight growth, bigger revenues, and maybe even early retirement. Then I leave the room (or Zoom), and POP! The bubble bursts. Suddenly, it’s clear we just committed to a bunch of big ideas with zero actual plan for Monday morning.

This happens all the time. Ideation is fun and expansive; execution is less glamorous and more grueling. But without disciplined follow-through, strategy is just wishful thinking. In my experience, two pitfalls sink most teams:

1. Teams underestimate the work required and overestimate their bandwidth.

2. Teams never translate big goals into tangible workflows.

So how do you close the gap between vision and execution? Here are three practices I’ve seen make the difference:

1. Prioritize quarterly planning.
Annual goals matter, but breaking them into quarterly plans creates focus, flexibility, and momentum. Every three months, you get a chance to recalibrate, celebrate wins, and keep the team aligned on what matters most.

2. Build a clear execution roadmap.
Don’t assume your team will just “get it.” Document every task, owner, and timeline. Use whatever tool works (even Excel) as long as the plan is visible and shared.

3. Schedule weekly check-ins.
Keep them short and structured, like a scrum: updates, priorities, blockers. It’s an accountability mechanism. No one wants to show up empty-handed week after week.

Big goals are exciting, but real progress happens in small, consistent steps. Break it down, celebrate wins along the way, and turn your strategy into Monday morning action.

At Aurora Advisors, this is exactly the bridge I help founders build, moving from abstract strategy to disciplined execution. Because without Monday mapped out, even the best plan is just a dream.

See you at First Light.

Britt