Why do most strategies fail?

Most strategies make two mistakes: underestimating the competition and overestimating oneself. Once a strategy is formulated, it becomes static, much like speech; once spoken, there’s a significant gap between the words and the actual thought. The same applies to strategies; competitors are constantly changing, while one’s own strategy may not remain static. Both sides can encounter significant changes, causing major deviations from strategic goals in planning to execution. If the underdog suffers a major setback, it seems one’s own side will reach its goals faster; at this point, people proudly proclaim their strategic success. On the other hand, when a strategy fails, many companies go bankrupt, and people are generally uninterested in the stories of failures.

Below is a story about an ancient Chinese idiom. Please read the story and reflect on it.

<Marking the boat to find the sword>
－－A man from Chu State was crossing a river when his sword fell into the water from his boat. He immediately marked the spot on the boat, saying, “This is where my sword fell from.” When the boat stopped, he went into the water to look for it at the marked spot. But the boat had already moved on, and the sword hadn’t. To look for a sword like this is foolish indeed!