Section glossary:

In this part of the section we will have the translation or the meaning of selected words from the text in bold. Some more relevant words will have links for in-depth explanations

(En esta sección tendremosla traducción o significado de palabras seleccionadas del texto en negrita. Algunas palabras más relevantes tendrán enlaces para explicaciones detalladas.)

What's to be learned in this blog lesson:

-Why Dr. Roger L. Martin's book "A New Way To Think" is a MUST

-How I get creative with Messi so that my students can memorize an important lesson from the book

This blog post is an example of what you will find in our unique Euskaldunberry English Newsletter!

When I see myself in the position of finding new subjects, new ideas, to make sure I get the AWE effect from ny students, I decide to venture myself within every wild and wicked Rock'n Roll corner of the web.

All of a sudden I was browsing on YouTube (woooow!!!), and I was going after some strategy-related vocabulary, and then this outstanding Harvard Business Review video appeared as one of the results.

It was Dr. Roger L. Martin explaining "A Plan is not a Strategy" (link to the video here). It would be so nice if you watched the video. It is educational and enlightening, and not only for managers but language students as well! You get to understand the conceptual difference between a plan and a strategy from an expert in the subject, in an entertaining video! The hook in the video, for me, was him saying (in his nice educated Ontario accent) that the word "Strategic Planning" is bullshit -but not like this- he used other nice words. (LINK FOR MY VIDEO EXPLAINING BULLSHIT for a student soon to come)

Anyways- as the curious animal that I am, I decided to know more about this Canadian Professor, and right in the description of the video (as usually is on YouTube) I read about his (then) latest book, A New Way To Think.

Little can I say about how appealing (AND USEFUL) this book was to me, to my aspirations of becoming a more organized business person (creative people don't get a good rep over their marketing and organizing skills) and a more accomplished salesperson of my art.

And since I am in this rocking vibe, we can say that Roger Martin's book "A New Way to Think" is like a setlist for companies looking to rock their performance. It’s all about smashing outdated business models and creating fresh riffs that resonate with today’s audience—your customers.

Let's be clear- the rock'n roll approach is mine, not Dr. Roger L. Martin's. But his book ROCKS!

Section glossary:

AWE : asombro, admiración (a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.)

wicked: malandrín, de puta madre esclarecedor

enlightening: esclarecedor

hook: gancho

bullshit: tontería (more through the link)

What has Messi got to do with this book, and the rock'n roll introduction in this blog?

It might feel like just a clickbait, but it isn't.

Bear with me...

My students know that I tend to use all resources to make sure things might be easier for them while studying, learning, and (of course) MEMORIZING.

This old practice (yet forgotten) can be a useful tool when a students wants to go the extra mile.

In this particular case, when learning about one of the pillars of this book (Creating Strategic Possibilities), I came up with this sentence, that takes advantage of the acronym M.G.S.I.D.C.M.

Messi Gets Specially Imaginative Designing Creative Moves.

Simple, right? Messi Gets Specially Imaginative Designing Creative Moves.

And this is related to the seven steps when you are about to make choices and Generate Strategic Possibilities:

1- Move from Issues to Choice.

2- Generate Strategic Possibilities.

3- Specify Conditions for Success.

4- Identify the barriers to choice.

5- Design tests for the barriers conditions.

6- Conduct the tests.

7- Make the choice.

So "Messi Gets Specially Imaginative Designing Creative Moves" will help me remember as long as I can those seven steps. Of course each step has their own explanation, dynamics and reason to be, and you will learn these valuable lessons by buying the book (people should be buying and reading more books... this is one of them), and in my Newsletter I will guide you, as a language teacher, to be more familiar with the vocabulary of this great professor and writer and the topics discussed and taught in his book.

Section glossary:

clickbait: (on the internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular web page- sensational headlines to attract clicks, often misleading.

In Spanish: Titulares sensacionalistas para atraer clics, a menudo engañosos.

vocab: explanation

Here’s the breakdown, or what's to be learned from the book in a nutshell:

1. Competition: Just like a band battling for the top spot on the charts, Martin argues that competition is won at the front line, not in the corporate boardroom. It’s your crew on the ground—like roadies setting up the stage—who really make the magic happen.

2. Customers First: Forget about obsessing over the critics (shareholders). Focus on the fans (customers). Keep them rocking, and the rewards will follow. Think of how bands like Judas Priest put their fans first, releasing albums and merchandise that keep their hardcore base pumped.

3. Strategy Over Planning: A killer concert isn’t just about sticking to the plan (setlist). It’s about adapting to the energy of the crowd. Martin suggests that great strategy is like improvisation—being ready to riff when things change.

4. Execution is Everything: Just like every member of a band needs to be in sync to pull off an epic performance, every part of a company needs to be aligned with its strategy. It’s about nailing the execution, not just talking about it.

5. Innovation: Think of innovation like a new album release. It’s not just about the cool new songs (ideas); it’s about how you drop them. Martin emphasizes that the launch and reception are as crucial as the ideas themselves—much like the buzz around a new movie release.

In a nutshell:

“A New Way to Think” is your backstage pass to revamping business strategies, making sure every gig (business move) is a showstopper. Whether you’re headbanging to metal or getting lost in a cinematic universe, this book teaches that the key to success is in the execution, the connection with the audience, and the courage to break away from old-school thinking.

Section glossary:

vocab: explanation

vocab: explanation

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The Vocabulary

Strategy Over Planning!

bullshit

"Bullshit" is a term used to describe something that is deliberately false, deceptive, or nonsensical. It's often used to point out statements, arguments, or behaviors that someone perceives as dishonest, misleading, or lacking in substance. A student used to compare it to the Spanish term "humo".

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