Eliyahu Goldratt's Theory of Constraints teaches that businesses should focus on delivering actual value to clients, not intermediate metrics. Identifying your line of value lets you prioritize projects that amplify it, turning your company into a multiplier of client value and capturing significant revenue.
Where is the line of value in a business? I think when you understand that, you're in a much better position to provide useful products and engagements that are going to allow the client to have a multiplier on that value because you're focused on the things that really matter. Elihu Goldratt wrote this book, The Goal, back in the 1980s about the theory of constraints. But the really key takeaway from it, I think, is focus on value delivery. There are all sorts of little intermediate metrics along the way. Often the reason why people say let's get started with a given project project. But the more you can be the one who's understanding where the line of value is in the company, which way the water is flowing in this river, so that you can be making sure that whatever you're doing is going to be a multiplier on that, that is going to be how you create exceptional outcomes for the client. And that is going to be how you are able to create a practice or a product or company that's able to capture a lot of revenue.
