Hope is Not a Strategy

What do you think when someone precedes any statement with the following two words:

“I hope”

For example, if you are waiting for a report at work do you want to hear:

1. I hope to have it to you by the end of the day.

-or-

2. I will have it in your hands by the end of the day.

Which message do you want to hear?

Of course, you want to hear the second one.

When it comes to your career you want to deliver the second one.

Because your career, your ability to advance, your communication skills, your perception among your peers as well as the way management sees you… Depends on it!

Don’t hope something will happen. Hope is not a strategy.

If it is within your power … Get it done!

Picture of Jeff Shuey

Jeff Shuey

Jeff is an expert in the Enterprise Content Management industry. He brings over 20 years of Channel Sales, Partner Marketing and Alliance expertise to audiences around the world in speaking engagements and via his writing. He has worked for Microsoft, Kodak, and K2. He is currently consulting with Microsoft and partners to drive Community Engagement and Alliances. Follow him on Twitter @jshuey or on LinkedIn: in/JeffShuey

TRENDING AROUND THE WEB

Why we say one thing and mean another — the linguistics and cognition of the intent–expression gap

Why we say one thing and mean another — the linguistics and cognition of the intent–expression gap

Global English Editing

The people arguing about WordPress went quiet in 2026 and the problems that caused the argument are still there

The people arguing about WordPress went quiet in 2026 and the problems that caused the argument are still there

The Blog Herald

I have interviewed 60 adult children of emotionally difficult parents, and the sadness that kept coming up was not that their parents failed them — it was that they still kept hoping they would change

I have interviewed 60 adult children of emotionally difficult parents, and the sadness that kept coming up was not that their parents failed them — it was that they still kept hoping they would change

The Blog Herald

Adult children who stop sharing good news with their parents are not always bitter — sometimes they are protecting one happy thing from being minimized

Adult children who stop sharing good news with their parents are not always bitter — sometimes they are protecting one happy thing from being minimized

The Blog Herald

Writers who over-explain their credentials in every post may not be building authority — for some readers, it quietly signals the opposite

Writers who over-explain their credentials in every post may not be building authority — for some readers, it quietly signals the opposite

The Blog Herald

Loving someone and being good for each other are two things that sometimes happen at the same time — and sometimes never do

Loving someone and being good for each other are two things that sometimes happen at the same time — and sometimes never do

The Vessel