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Why Retail Strategies Fail - Kevin Ertell Breaks Down The Strategy Trap
Season 2
Episode 2
Published 1 month ago
Description
S2E2 Your Strategy Isn’t Failing - Your Execution Is. Here’s How to Fix It.
Most strategies don’t fail in the boardroom - they fail in the real world. In this episode of Retail Transformers, Ricardo and Casey sit down with Kevin Ertell, longtime retail operator and author of The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right. Kevin shares why 67% of well‑crafted strategies fail, the early warning signs leaders miss, and how his Six Cs framework helps teams turn strategy into real‑world results.
As Kevin explains, “Most strategies fail later, not loudly” - and the root cause is almost always poor execution, not bad ideas. Drawing from 30+ years at Nike, Sur La Table, Borders, and Tower Records, plus interviews with 60+ operators, Kevin breaks down how leaders can avoid the strategy trap and build strategies that humans can actually execute.
What We Cover
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re launching a new strategy this year. Or wondering why the last one didn’t land. This conversation gives you the tools, frameworks, and mindset to execute with confidence.
About Our Guest
Kevin Ertell, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinertell/
Author, The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right. https://a.co/d/04AqxywE
Founder & CEO, Mistere Advisory. https://www.mistereadvisory.com
Kevin Ertell is a veteran executive and trusted advisor with more than 30 years of experience leading transformations at brands like Nike, Tower Records, and Sur La Table. As founder and CEO of Mistere Advisory, he helps companies of all sizes bring clarity, alignment, and action to their strategies. Known for his straight talk, practical insight, and ability to cut through complex
Most strategies don’t fail in the boardroom - they fail in the real world. In this episode of Retail Transformers, Ricardo and Casey sit down with Kevin Ertell, longtime retail operator and author of The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right. Kevin shares why 67% of well‑crafted strategies fail, the early warning signs leaders miss, and how his Six Cs framework helps teams turn strategy into real‑world results.
As Kevin explains, “Most strategies fail later, not loudly” - and the root cause is almost always poor execution, not bad ideas. Drawing from 30+ years at Nike, Sur La Table, Borders, and Tower Records, plus interviews with 60+ operators, Kevin breaks down how leaders can avoid the strategy trap and build strategies that humans can actually execute.
What We Cover
- Why most strategies fail in execution, not planning
- The Strategy Trap: what it is and how to avoid it
- The Six Cs framework: Co‑creation, Clarity, Capacity, Communication, Coordination, Coaching
- Why co‑creation is essential for execution success
- The “tree stump theory” and how blind spots derail execution
- Why leaders must “slow down to speed up”
- How culture, incentives, and communication shape execution
- Real‑world examples from Nike, Borders, and more
Why This Episode Matters
If you’re launching a new strategy this year. Or wondering why the last one didn’t land. This conversation gives you the tools, frameworks, and mindset to execute with confidence.
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About Our Guest
Kevin Ertell, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinertell/
Author, The Strategy Trap: Why Companies Fail at Execution and How to Get It Right. https://a.co/d/04AqxywE
Founder & CEO, Mistere Advisory. https://www.mistereadvisory.com
Kevin Ertell is a veteran executive and trusted advisor with more than 30 years of experience leading transformations at brands like Nike, Tower Records, and Sur La Table. As founder and CEO of Mistere Advisory, he helps companies of all sizes bring clarity, alignment, and action to their strategies. Known for his straight talk, practical insight, and ability to cut through complex