Paul Ruppert - Business and High Performance Strategy from Skiing Coach and Executive

Paul is a season executive in the cpass and mobile services. He has worked as a lobbyist and has a comprehensive strategic consulting background. He’s also a skiing coach for more than 25 years. I truly had a fun discussion with him ranging from sports to business strategy to books and how emerging economies are spurring new innovations.   This is an extended conversation with him on the following topics: ·       Journey into skiing ·       Hemang’s experience with Downhill Mountain Biking in Colorado – Girl Scouts Trail ·       Negotiating tricky slopes when skiing ·       Skiing Coaching levels ·       Crafting your strategy for complex situations ·       Difference between German and American armies during World War II ·       Bringing audacious goals to reality ·       Books ·       Reverse Innovation ·       Working with an open mind for projects spanning geographies   Books Paul Recommends The Art of War by Sun Tzu: Ancient Chinese text provides profound insights into strategy, tactics, intelligence gathering and leadership. Relevant not just in war fighting but all aspects of decision making and conflict. The “OG” of strategists.   The Mind of the Strategist by Kenichi Ohmae: Pivotal work by Japanese management consultant, book illuminates art of business strategy from Eastern perspective. Emphasizes a comprehensive, integrated and holistic approach to problem solving.   Competitive Advantage by Michael Porter. Seminal text on business strategy, introduces the concept and structural rubric of the “value chain” framework for analyzing and optimizing the various elements of a business. Key to HBS (Harvard Business School) case study methodology.   Innovator’s Dilemma, plus Innovator’s DNA, by Clayton Christensen. Ground breaking works exploring how even when successful companies do everything right, they can still loose market leadership to smaller, innovative companies with disruptive technologies, usually by targeting segments or adjacencies the larger “incumbents” overlook. Innovator’s DNA is a map as to how anyone can become the disruptive market innovator. Every entrepreneur should read both.   The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli. Thought as exclusive to political strategy, it offers great insights into the dynamics of power, leadership and psychology, with insights of morally complex, strategic decision making.   Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley. Penned by former CEO of Procter & Gamble, provides an “in  the trenches,” insider perspective on what it takes to create and execute a winning turnaround strategy in a complex corporate environment.   Sea Power: The History and Geopolitics of the World’s Oceans, by Admiral James G. Stavridis, US Navy. (Stavridis was four star Admiral who became Commander of NATO, later Dean of Tuft’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.). Provides an extensive exploration of the strategic significance—economically, politically, and geo-security—of the world’s oceans.  Examines how naval power, and global logistics, has shaped the history of nations and international relations.  Delves into current strategic issues such as the rise of China’s naval power, piracy, importance of maritime trade routes and the environmental challenges from c Follow Hemang Shah at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hemang Join his FREE newsletter at https://www.innovationsportslife.com/