There are moments of epiphany (relevant essence of something) in a continuous learning process. I went through something like this at the last course of project management.

A simple sentence has triggered a complex process: Strategy is the way in which you reach your objectives. When I heard it my past experiences and knowledge have become pieces on a chessboard in a game where I know beforehand what moves my opponent will do.

Regardless of how much information and experience you accumulate the engine that will move you ahead depend on how you create connections between them.

Strategy remains a word said with reverence in business. Until now I have met 3 types of people who assume an expertise in what is called business strategy:

1. Unknowers – those who use the word strategy in contexts like “I do PR strategy”, etc. without understanding how much experience involves the assumption of such expertise. Usually these people gather with similar to them people and feed their vanity listening to each other speaking.
2. Conservators – those managers and business owners that apply the with perseverance things applied 10 years ago without understanding that the terms used no longer exist or have a completely different meaning. Formal authority given by the assertion “I am the boss and I know best” spread terror among subordinates who will bend over to do things as they should be done without upsetting the boss. Eventually profits will come and he / she will be proud of his strategic abilities and will be generous with kicking the lower backside of the slaves that worked for it.
3. I-want-to-be-like-him-when-I-grow-up People – those who aggregate intelligence, experience, common sense and care about those around them and which do not even bother to use the word strategy. They know that their experience is a foundation which can be build upon only if they have an attitude open to new and the consciousness that they are not always right.

Except those who are truly exceptional, for the rest of us to get success requires a lot of work and continuous learning. These are some minimum requirements. If success means not only money and social position, you need to be a genuine human being with real values for others to look at you like as to a model to follow.

The ability to understand the concept of strategy as well as its applicability in professional and personal life and in building your personal brand is obtained while gathering experience and continuous learning.