Once you’ve set the goal in Step 1, the question becomes: how will you get there?
In a 100-day turnaround, simplification is the strategy. Using the 80/20 Principle, you quickly separate what works from what doesn’t, redirecting resources from low-value activities to the few priorities that truly drive results.
A full turnaround won’t be complete in 100 days—but in this window, you can design the strategy that stops the bleeding, restores momentum, and sets up the structure that follows.
Speed Matters
Cash flow challenges don’t wait. That’s why strategy creation in a turnaround must move fast. The objective isn’t a perfect long-term plan, but a framework you can act on immediately—one that positions you for Step 3, where structure gets built around the strategy.
A Scaffold, Not a Finished Blueprint
Step 2 produces a working outline, not a static playbook. It should answer five critical questions:
- What is required to achieve breakthrough performance?
- What differentiators are needed to win?
- What opportunities or issues must be addressed (new products, extensions, acquisitions)?
- What are the highest-value initiatives, and are they financially viable?
- Which critical few priorities must come first?
This clarity shifts the organization from reactive firefighting to deliberate execution.
Strategic Alignment + Cross-Functional Execution
Step 2 has two core components, both powered by 80/20:
- Strategic Alignment: Use data to segment customers and products. Focus on the “critical few,” simplify the rest, and target sales to grow share and pricing power.
- Cross-Functional Execution: Align resources to the strategy. Redeploy 80% of resources into Quad 1 by pulling them out of Quad 4. Define service levels by quadrant, consolidate vendors, improve inventory management, and apply lean to operations.
When strategy and execution line up, momentum follows.
Building Momentum
Early wins restore confidence. That’s why the 80/20 approach works so well: it provides immediate levers like price actions, cost reductions, and resource redeployment, generating measurable results in weeks, not years.
We’ve seen companies identify $20M+ in profit improvements in under 100 days by using this exact process to realign priorities and redeploy resources into their Fort.
The Bottom Line
A successful turnaround strategy isn’t about perfection; it’s about speed, simplicity, and focus. Step 2 gives you the framework to stop the bleeding and channel resources into the few initiatives that drive real performance.
At The 80/20 Institute, we help leadership teams build 80/20-driven strategies that cut through complexity, align execution, and generate early wins that restore momentum.
Book a Discovery Call today to see how we can help you build your turnaround strategy in 100 days—and create the discipline for profitable growth that lasts.