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While attempting to score three stars on each and every level of Angry Birds, I had a light bulb moment which has caused me to reflect over the past couple of days: <strong>what can eliminating pigs and destroying their buildings teach us about business?</strong>

Laugh, you may, but if you want to be enlightened, read on about the five key lessons learned:
<h2><b>Strategy</b></h2>
Every level in Angry Birds requires a unique and different strategy. In my role with eGroup, I am responsible for our Sales and Marketing Strategy and clearly see how this applies to our approach to growing eGroup’s business. Each Bird has a different utility – much like each of our tools (email, phone, people, social media, etc.). The key is to understand that each of these tools can be utilized in different ways. Each level can be compared to a prospective customer – or a goal. What works with one prospective customer or goal may not work with the next. You have to evaluate the goal, understand the tools/resources available, determine a plan of attack, and then be nimble so you can adjust on the fly based upon lessons learned.
<h2><b>Tactics</b></h2>
How do I then take my overall strategy and employ tactics to accomplish the goal? In Angry Birds – you have to look for the initial point of attack to inflect the most damage. You also score extra points for birds not utilized. However, on some levels, you score more points for using all birds and creating the most damage possible. In business, you need to determine the tactics that will enable the successful attainment of your goals based on the strategy you have decided to employ.
<h2><b>Creativity</b></h2>
In Angry Birds you have to be creative. Just because Hal the Boomerang Bird has the ability to boomerang does not mean that you need to use this ability every time. You could simply have him make a head on attack. In business, always look for creative ways to utilize your tools. Break out of your typical paradigm and be creative. At eGroup we have a saying – “What got us here will not get us where we are going.” This concept can be applied to the tools at our disposal. An email campaign format that worked with one customer may not work with another prospect. Be creative and continue to evolve your approach.
<h2><b>Persistence</b></h2>
Never give up. Even when you have attacked a level multiple times and have determined you are not likely to score more than one star, if you keep after it and apply the lessons learned above, you are very likely to find that one weak spot that will change the entire dynamics of the approach. Much like in sales, a level of Angry Birds can frustrate you to no end. But if you keep trying and utilize different strategies, tactics, and creativity you will have that moment of clarity when you say – “Wow – this is doable.” If what you are trying is not working, then try something different.
<h2><b>Resource Management</b></h2>
At eGroup, an important element of our success and that of our customers is the ability of our team to manage our resources. We have many resources available and each and every team member has a different skill set or value that they deliver. Understanding what birds you have at your disposal, what skills they posses, and how to best utilize them increases your likelihood of success. In business, this is a vital skill set that is needed to enable individual and organizational success.

Feel free to share your thoughts and observations below. Or, perhaps you’ve learned some life and business lessons from Cut the Rope? If so, let us know!